CBSET Partner CILcare Leads Phase 2 of $2.1 Million Total Detect Project to Develop a Preclinical Model for Tinnitus Drug Therapy Development

November 13, 2018 |

2 min read

In Phase 2, CILcare will adapt the preclinical model to humans.

LEXINGTON, Mass. & MONTPELLIER, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CBSET partner CILCare, a world-leading CRO (clinical research organization) specialized in the research and development of drugs and medical devices in the field of hearing, has initiated the second phase of its ongoing tinnitus research project, DETECT, a public/private project being conducted in collaboration with the University of Montpellier that aims to develop a preclinical tinnitus detection model.

In Phase 1, CILcare was able to correlate electrophysiology, MEMRI (manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging), and behavioral assessments that define a preclinical model for detecting tinnitus. In Phase 2, CILcare will adapt the preclinical model to humans.

“DETECT is a testament to our partner CILcare’s leadership in preclinical tinnitus research and development,” said Peter M. Markham, CEO and a co-founder of CBSET.

“DETECT empowers us to discover new insights that should dramatically advance development of preclinical tools so we might better understand the effects of medicine on the inner ear and the auditory cortex, and thereby expedite the arrival of industry’s therapeutic solutions for patients suffering from tinnitus,” said Celia Belline, CEO and founder of CILcare.

Tinnitus is the perception of a noise that one hears in the absence of external stimulation. Occasional, intermittent, or continuous, tinnitus can occur after physical or acoustic trauma, as a result of taking certain medications, and can be associated with several diseases including Meniere’s disease. In most cases, tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss. 600 million people in the world suffer from tinnitus. For these patients, this symptom greatly impacts their quality of life and causes chronic stress that can lead to suicide in the most extreme cases. There is no therapeutic solution to treat tinnitus due to a lack of understanding of its physiopathological mechanisms, the lack of reliable models for developing new compounds in preclinical research, and the difficulties in accurately diagnosing patients.

About CILcare
CILcare is a CRO specialized in hearing and is a world leader in this field. Established in Montpellier, Paris, and Boston, the company assists pharmaceutical industries, biotechs and medtechs in the development of new therapies to prevent and treat hearing loss, tinnitus, and otitis.

About CBSET
CBSET is an established translational research leader in endovascular and interventional cardiology, renal disease models, chronic drug-resistant hypertension, women’s health, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, biological and synthetic tissue repair, drug delivery, bioresorbable devices, and combination medical device and drug-eluting products.