Shionogi takes option on Cilcare’s hearing loss candidate

Japanese drugmaker Shionogi (TYO: 4507) has entered into an option agreement with French firm Cilcare to acquire the exclusive license for the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of CIL001 and/or CIL003, a hearing loss treatment drug candidates worldwide.

In conjunction with the signing of the agreement, Shionogi will make an upfront payment of 15 million euros ($16.2 million) to Cilcare. If Shionogi exercises its option for both compounds and development and commercialization proceeds successfully, the total of the option payments and development, regulatory, and sales milestones may reach around 400 million euros, plus royalties on net sales.

Cilcare has been developing CIL001, a novel candidate drug for hearing loss treatment with auditory nerve protective effects. Currently, preparatory activities are underway to collect auditory data in patients with type 2 diabetes or mild cognitive impairment. From the fiscal year 2025, Phase IIa studies are planned to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CIL001 in patients with type 2 diabetes who have cochlear synaptopathy.