Release
2025/05/09
OSAKA, Japan, May 9, 2025 - Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; Chief Executive Officer: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter "Shionogi") announced that it has entered into a joint research agreement with CILCARE SAS (Headquarters: Montpellier, France; CEO: Celia BELLINE; hereinafter "Cilcare") for the creation of a new drug pipeline for hearing loss.
Hearing loss is a major global health issue affecting around 5% of the world’s population, had hearing loss disability, accounting for 432 million adults & 34 million children, thus, influencing their quality of life. Its incidence is rapidly increasing, with predictions that, by 2050, a quarter of the global population will experience varying degrees of hearing deficiency1,2. Furthermore, hearing loss is a risk factor for the onset of dementia, and it has been reported that eliminating hearing loss can reduce the risk of developing dementia3. However, at present, the detailed pathological mechanisms are unknown, and there are no effective treatments available, making it a disease with high unmet needs4,5. Among these, Cilcare is one of the world's leading companies coupling advanced non-clinical research technology with clinical know-how, and, in an option agreement with Shionogi, is advancing the development of drug candidates for hearing loss (CIL001, CIL003)6,7.
In this collaborative research, we will integrate Shionogi's drug discovery expertise with Cilcare's specialized knowledge in hearing loss to develop innovative treatments targeting novel mechanisms. Additionally, by adopting Cilcare's non-clinical evaluation technology, we can expedite our collaborative research and advance product development from an early stage. Leveraging clinical trial data from Cilcare will enhance our translational research capabilities in this field, contributing to the generation of an ongoing pipeline of future development candidates.
Shionogi has identified “Contributing to a Healthy and Prosperous Life” as a materiality to address. We are committed to creating a society where everyone can lead a longer and more vibrant life, staying true to themselves. Shionogi continues to strive to deliver innovative treatments for diseases with high unmet medical needs, including hearing loss, to patients as quickly as possible.
Reference:
1: Hearing Loss Disease Treatment Market Size & Growth to 2028 (kbvresearch.com)
4: McDaid D et al. Estimating the global costs of hearing loss Int J Audiol. 2021; 60: 162-170.
5: Shearer AE, Smith RJH. Genetic hearing loss. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
6: Option Agreement with Cilcare for Development Compounds Addressing Hearing Loss｜ SHIONOGI
About Cilcare
Cilcare is a biotechnology company specializing in auditory science, developing cutting-edge solutions for the characterization, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing impairments and related disorders. Since its founding in 2014, Cilcare has been addressing these global challenges by combining an advanced research and development platform, a promising portfolio of drug candidates, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to characterize various forms of hearing impairments. Over the past decade, Cilcare has provided its technology to industry leaders and researchers in Europe, America, and Asia, accelerating the development of drugs, gene and cell therapies, and medical devices for hearing impairments.
For more information, please visit Cilcare’s website.
About CIL001
CIL001 is a novel hearing loss treatment candidate with auditory nerve protection properties, introduced by Cilcare in 2020. In previous non-clinical trials, CIL001 has been shown to improve the amplitude of the first wave of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and promote the reconnection of cochlear synapses that connect inner ear sensory cells to the auditory nerve, thereby improving hearing loss. Shionogi has an option agreement to acquire exclusive licenses for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of CIL001 worldwide.
About Hearing loss
Hearing loss is a major global health issue affecting around 0.5 billion people worldwide. The significant surge in its incidence is attributed to the growing global population and an increase in the elderly demographic. If this trend continues, it will result in higher health insurance costs, social isolation, poverty, and a decrease in productivity, leading to substantial losses for society. One of the challenges with hearing loss is its gradual onset, making it difficult for patients to recognize and leading to low diagnosis rates. It is known to hinder various social activities, including communication with others, and is also considered a risk factor for central nervous system diseases.
About Shionogi
Shionogi strives constantly to supply the best possible medicine (healthcare solutions) to protect the health and wellbeing of the patients we serve, and as a united group. We have identified Contributing to a Healthy and Prosperous Life as a material focus. We are committed to creating a society where everyone can lead a longer, more vibrant life, realizing their goals. For more information, please visit https://www.shionogi.com/global/en/