NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND — Cilcare, a French-US biopharmaceutical company specializing in auditory science, announced a series of U.S. investments at the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, including plans for a clinical trial of its lead tinnitus drug candidate at Massachusetts General Hospital, expanded preclinical capacity through its partner CBSET, and the launch of a U.S. gateway for international biotech companies.
The announcement highlights three key initiatives:
- A clinical trial of CIL001 in tinnitus planned at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
- A threefold expansion of preclinical capacity at CBSET in Massachusetts
- The launch of a U.S. operational gateway for international biotech companies entering the American market
CIL001 Tinnitus Trial Planned at Massachusetts General Hospital
Tinnitus affects more than 750 million people worldwide, including an estimated 50 million Americans, according to the company. Despite the condition’s broad impact, there are currently no approved pharmacological treatments for tinnitus.
Cilcare said it is investing in the preparation of a clinical trial of its lead drug candidate, CIL001, to be conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in partnership with the team of Professor Stéphane Maison, an internationally recognized leader in auditory neuroscience.
The trial would represent the first evaluation of CIL001 in patients with chronic tinnitus in the United States.
“Massachusetts continues to be a global destination for companies looking to invest, innovate and grow,” said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
“Cilcare’s expansion and this new clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital reflect the strength of our life sciences ecosystem and the partnerships that make it possible to move breakthrough ideas into real treatments. We’re proud to support work that brings new hope to patients while driving economic growth across our state.”
Cilcare and CBSET Expand Longstanding Research Partnership
Since 2017, Cilcare has maintained a scientific partnership with CBSET, a preclinical biomedical research organization based in Massachusetts. Over nearly a decade, the collaboration has supported research on novel drug candidates and gene therapy approaches in hearing.
With a major investment by Arlington Capital Partners, CBSET is set to triple its laboratory capacity. Cilcare said the expansion will allow it to scale up its hearing research operations in the United States and further support its auditory drug development programs.
“Our partnership with CBSET is far more than a contractual relationship — it is a shared translational engine that has driven some of our most important discoveries,” said Celia Belline, CEO of Cilcare. Arlington Capital Partners’ growth investment in CBSET is a powerful signal of confidence in our joint roadmap and in the future of hearing therapeutics.”
A U.S. Gateway for International Biotech Companies
Cilcare and CBSET also announced plans to create a U.S. operational gateway for foreign biotechs, medtech firms, technology platforms, and academic spin-offs seeking to establish an American presence.
The model is intended to provide international companies with access to preclinical platforms, regulatory guidance, connections with U.S. academic centers, and local office and lab space.
“Cilcare is building on nearly a decade of collaboration here, expanding research capacity and deepening its presence in Massachusetts,” said Massachusetts Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. “Through our Mass Wins legislation and its GlobalMass strategy, we are making it easier for international companies to establish and grow in Massachusetts. Paired with world-class clinical partners and infrastructure, investments like this strengthen our position as a global hub for life sciences innovation.”
The companies said the hub model reflects a broader effort to support innovation and translation in Massachusetts, particularly in the field of hearing therapeutics.
About Cilcare
Cilcare is a French biotech company dedicated to the development of innovative therapies for inner ear diseases. Built on world-class expertise in auditory neuroscience, Cilcare supports all stages of preclinical and clinical development — both for its own pipeline and for industrial and academic partners worldwide. Headquartered in Montpellier, France, Cilcare operates across Europe and the United States.
To learn more, visit www.cilcare.com and follow Cilcare on LinkedIn.
About CIL001
CIL001 is a novel investigational drug candidate targeting cochlear synaptopathy, a key mechanism involved in early-stage auditory dysfunction and tinnitus, often associated with difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. CIL001 is advancing into Phase 2a clinical evaluation in tinnitus patients in the United States and in different patient subpopulations in Europe, as a potential disease-modifying therapy.
About CBSET
Founded in 2006, CBSET is a leading Boston-area provider of translational research and product development services for the medical device, pharmaceutical, diagnostic, and biomedical research industries. The company offers a broad range of GLP and non-GLP research services and is recognized globally for shortening product lifecycles and time-to-market for novel innovations.
For more information, visit cbset.com and follow CBSET on LinkedIn.
Source: Cilcare
