MONTPELLIER, FRANCE – Cilcare, a biotechnology company specializing in auditory sciences, has announced the appointment of Dr. Bettina M. Cockroft as its new Chief Medical Officer. With over three decades of experience in clinical development, medical affairs, and a strong background in the biopharmaceutical industry, Dr. Cockroft brings a wealth of expertise in advancing innovative therapies for hearing disorders, particularly cochlear synaptopathy and sensorineural hearing loss.
A Leader in Clinical Development and Hearing Health
Dr. Cockroft’s distinguished career spans several senior roles in both large pharmaceutical companies and biotech organizations. Currently serving on the board of Directors for two U.S.-based public biotech companies, she leverages her extensive expertise in clinical development and strategy, including her prior experience as Chief Medical Officer at Auris Medical, where she led clinical development programs focused on ear disorders, including tinnitus and sensorineural hearing loss. Bettina has also held leadership roles at Sangamo Therapeutics and other U.S. biotech firms, where she was instrumental in clinical strategy, regulatory affairs, and the successful development of cutting-edge therapies. Her diverse background includes significant experience in neurology, rare diseases, and infectious diseases.
Previously, Dr. Cockroft spent nearly a decade at Merck Serono, where she led the Neurology Clinical Development Unit from Geneva and Boston. As Head of Global Clinical Development for Multiple Sclerosis, she oversaw the successful development and lifecycle management of several neurology treatments, driving global clinical initiatives and navigating complex regulatory challenges.
“Bettina’s extensive experience in clinical development and her leadership in bringing innovative therapies to market make her a perfect fit for Cilcare’s mission to address unmet needs in the hearing disorder space. We are thrilled to have Bettina on board as we continue to advance our pipeline and focus on developing novel treatments entering clinical trials, including CIL001, for cochlear synaptopathy and related conditions.”
–Celia Belline, CEO of Cilcare
Bettina holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and is a trained neurologist with clinical neurophysiopathology specialization from the University of Genoa, Italy. Fluent in English, German, and Italian, she brings a multicultural, global perspective to the team, combining her European and U.S.-based expertise.
“I’m truly excited to join Cilcare and contribute to the company’s groundbreaking work in hearing health,” said Dr. Cockroft. “Cilcare’s dual culture, bringing together the energy of the U.S. and the innovation that flows from both the U.S. and France, deeply resonates with me. I’ve always had a personal interest in hearing health, and my experience at Auris has deepened my commitment to this field. I’m inspired by the immense potential at Cilcare and look forward to collaborating with the talented team to advance CIL001 and other promising therapies that can change the lives of those affected by hearing disorders.”
With her proven expertise in clinical strategy and leadership across biotech and pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Cockroft is poised to be a driving force in Cilcare’s mission to deliver breakthrough therapies for hearing disorders.
About Cilcare
Cilcare is a biotechnology company specializing in auditory sciences, developing cutting-edge solutions for the characterization, diagnosis, and treatment of hearing disorders and associated diseases. Founded by three visionary entrepreneurs, the company now employs a team of 45 international collaborators, supported by a scientific advisory board. Since its creation in 2014, Cilcare has dedicated itself to addressing these global challenges by combining an advanced R&D platform, a promising drug candidate portfolio, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to characterize various forms of hearing loss.
For the past 10 years, Cilcare has also made its technology available to industry leaders and researchers in Europe, the United States, and Asia to accelerate the development of drugs, gene and cell therapies, and medical devices for hearing disorders.
Source: Cilcare
