What Sensorion does

Sensorion SA is a France-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing targeted therapeutics for vestibular and inner ear disorders. Founded in 2009 as a spin-off from INSERM and listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ticker: ALSEN), the company operates a portfolio built on three strategic pillars — Restore, Treat, and Prevent — addressing genetic and acquired forms of hearing loss. Its pipeline includes two AAV-based gene therapy candidates (SENS-501/OTOF-GT for otoferlin deficiency and SENS-601/GJB2-GT for GJB2-related hearing loss) and the small molecule SENS-401 (Arazasetron), a first-in-class 5-HT3 receptor antagonist and calcineurin inhibitor being studied for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, and hearing preservation in cochlear implantation. In June 2026, Sensorion selected SENS-601 as its lead gene therapy program with ANSM Fast Track designation and discontinued SENS-501 to concentrate resources on the broader GJB2 opportunity.

The company's technology platform centers on a dual AAV vector approach for delivering large genes such as OTOF, combined with an integrated AAV development platform specialized for inner ear disorders. Its research base is anchored by a strategic partnership with Institut Pasteur, which grants Sensorion preferred access to genetic hearing loss programs and biomarkers. Manufacturing for gene therapy candidates is handled through a development and manufacturing agreement with Novasep signed in October 2020, and the company benefits from translational collaborations with Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AUDINNOVE consortium partners, Cochlear Limited, and Sonova.

As a clinical-stage biotech, Sensorion currently generates no product revenue. Its operations are funded through equity financings (€4M and €8M in 2015, €31M in 2020, €35M in August 2023, €50.5M in February 2024, and €60M in January 2026 including a €20M strategic investment from Sanofi), non-dilutive grants (PATRIOT up to €5.6M for Sensorion; AUDINNOVE up to €9.7M), and equity from strategic partners Sonova (€5M in 2020) and Cochlear Limited (€1.6M). The company reported a €29.4M net loss and €28.8M in R&D expenses for full-year 2025, with cash runway extended into H1 2027. Future revenue is expected to come from product sales (once approved) targeting hospitals, ENT specialists, and academic medical centers, supplemented by licensing of partnered programs such as SENS-401 for cochlear implantation.

Name

Sensorion

Legal name

Sensorion SA

Website

https://sensorion.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sensorion SA is a France-based clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing AAV-based gene therapies and small molecule therapeutics for inner ear disorders, targeting patients with genetic and acquired hearing loss including OTOF deficiency, GJB2 mutations, SSNHL, and chemotherapy-induced ototoxicity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceuticals — Hearing Loss Therapeutics

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Otology & Neurotology (Ear/Hearing/Balance) (HLAKAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audiology & Hearing Services (ENT-Affiliated) (HLAKAMAI), Audiology & Hearing Diagnostic Centers (HLAFAKAH)

Keywords

• Hearing loss therapeutics
• Gene therapy development
• Small molecule biopharmaceuticals
• Inner ear disorders
• Clinical stage biotech

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Gene Therapy Pipeline Commercialization: Sensorion is a clinical-stage biotech company with no commercialized products. The company is developing gene therapy programs (SENS-501 for OTOF deficiency, SENS-601/GJB2-GT for GJB2-related hearing loss) and small molecule SENS-401 for SSNHL and ototoxicity prevention. Future revenue will come from product sales upon regulatory approval.
2. SENS-401 Clinical Development: SENS-401 is progressing through Phase 2 proof-of-concept studies for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, cochlear implantation, and SSNHL. The company is exploring partnering options for SENS-401 SSNHL and SENS-401 Cochlear programs.
3. Collaborations and Licensing: Sensorion receives non-dilutive funding through grants (PATRIOT consortium up to €5.6M, AUDINNOVE consortium up to €9.7M) and may pursue licensing agreements for its technologies and partnered programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Sensorion is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutic solutions for inner ear disorders organized around three pillars: Restore (gene therapies for genetic deafness), Treat (small molecule therapeutics for sudden sensorineural hearing loss), and Prevent (otoprotection in drug- and surgery-induced hearing loss). The pipeline includes AAV-based gene therapy candidates OTOF-GT (SENS-501) for otoferlin deficiency and GJB2-GT (SENS-601) for GJB2-related hearing loss, plus SENS-401 (Arazasetron), a 5-HT3 antagonist/calcineurin inhibitor small molecule being developed for SSNHL, cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, and hearing preservation after cochlear implantation.

Product overview

Sensorion is a clinical-stage biotechnology company with a therapeutic portfolio focused on restoring, treating, and preventing hearing loss disorders. The company operates two gene therapy programs (OTOF-GT/SENS-501 for otoferlin deficiency and GJB2-GT/SENS-601 for GJB2-related hearing loss) developed in collaboration with Institut Pasteur using AAV-based delivery platforms. Additionally, SENS-401 (Arazasetron) is a Phase 2 small molecule drug candidate addressing Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss, Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity, and hearing preservation post-cochlear implantation. The company also maintains strategic partnerships with Cochlear Limited for cochlear implant studies and Novasep for gene therapy manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OTOF-GT (SENS-501) AAV-based dual gene therapy product targeting otoferlin deficiency, one of the most common forms of congenital deafness caused by OTOF gene mutations. Uses two standard AAV vectors to deliver the large otoferlin gene with protein assembly in place in the inner ear. Developed in partnership with Institut Pasteur under the AUDINNOVE consortium. Intended for pediatric patients with OTOF-related congenital deafness (approximately 20,000 patients in USA and EU combined).
• GJB2-GT (SENS-601) AAV-based gene therapy targeting GJB2-related hearing loss, the most common cause of genetic deafness. Addresses congenital, childhood progressive, and early-onset presbycusis forms by restoring Connexin 26 protein function essential for gap junction formation in the cochlea. Developed in collaboration with Institut Pasteur. Targeted patient population includes approximately 100,000 adult patients with monogenic presbycusis and 200,000 with congenital/childhood onset forms.
• SENS-401 (Arazasetron) First-in-class small molecule drug candidate (R-azasetron besylate, a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with calcineurin inhibitor properties) administered orally or by injection. Development programs target Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSNHL), Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity (CIO) prevention, and hearing preservation after cochlear implantation. Phase 1 showed good tolerance in 36 healthy volunteers; Phase 2 SSNHL study completed; Phase 2 studies ongoing for CIO and cochlear implantation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hearing threshold gains of 60-70 dB HL observed in Cohort 2 patients at three months in Audiogene Phase 1/2 trial
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO)minorOthers · 7 February 2026Sensorion presented at ARO 49th Annual Midwinter Meeting (February 7-11, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico). Dr. Arnaud Giese presented on SENS-601 for autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness 1A (DFNB1A).
• NovasepcoreTechnology or Integration · 27 October 2020Development and manufacturing agreement signed October 2020 for gene therapy products. Novasep provides contract development and manufacturing services for Sensorion's AAV-based gene therapy candidates.
• Institut PasteurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2019Framework partnership agreement signed in May 2019 for gene therapy programs targeting hearing loss genetics. Sensorion has preferred partner status for Institut Pasteur's research programs in genetic inner ear diseases. First programs include otoferlin deficiency (SENS-501) and GJB2 mutations (GJB2-GT). The collaboration includes rights to establish R&D collaborations on additional programs from Pasteur's pipeline.
• AUDINNOVE ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium with Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Institut Pasteur, and Fondation pour l'Audition for development of gene therapy for otoferlin deficiency. Received RHU award in 2019 with funding up to €9.7M, advancing program to first patient enrollment. Includes database of genotypic/phenotypic characterization of children with congenital hearing loss, natural history study, and Phase 1 clinical study.
• Cochlear LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for SENS-401 in patients scheduled for cochlear implantation, with Phase 2a study ongoing. Cochlear invested €1.6M in Sensorion equity and received right of first negotiation for global license to use SENS-401 combined with its implantable hearing devices. Collaboration aims to prevent cell death and preserve residual hearing.
• PATRIOT ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with French Army Biomedical Research Center (IRBA), Institut Pasteur, and Echodia (MedTech for hearing diagnostics). Awarded PSPC grant of up to €10.8M (Sensorion up to €5.6M) for SENS-401 development in SSNHL, including biomarker identification work.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Otonomy: Otonomy is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for inner ear and CNS disorders, with multiple clinical programs addressing hearing loss — directly comparable to Sensorion's inner ear focus and clinical-stage gene therapy and small molecule pipeline.
• Frequency Therapeutics: Frequency Therapeutics develops small molecule therapeutics to regenerate damaged inner ear hair cells for hearing loss, targeting the same unmet medical need as Sensorion's SENS-401 and gene therapy programs in acquired and genetic sensorineural hearing loss.
• Decibel Therapeutics: Decibel Therapeutics developed AAV-based gene therapies for hearing loss (including OTOF and GJB2 programs) before being acquired by Regeneron in 2023 — a direct competitor in inner ear gene therapy with overlapping target indications.
• Akouos: Akouos developed AAV-based gene therapies for inner ear disorders including otoferlin deficiency, before being acquired by Eli Lilly in 2022 — a direct competitor with the most directly comparable gene therapy platform and OTOF focus to Sensorion's SENS-501.
• Pipeline Therapeutics: Pipeline Therapeutics develops small molecule programs for hearing restoration and protection, including programs for sensorineural hearing loss — overlapping with Sensorion's SENS-401 in therapeutic area and clinical-stage positioning.
• Audion Therapeutics: Audion Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing small molecules for hearing loss and inner ear regeneration, with lead programs in presbycusis and Meniere's disease — addressing overlapping indications with Sensorion's SENS-401 portfolio.

Broad incumbents

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron acquired Decibel Therapeutics in 2023 to build a hearing loss franchise, making it a broad incumbent with overlapping gene therapy capabilities targeting the same hearing loss indications as Sensorion's pipeline, plus substantially greater resources.
• Eli Lilly: Eli Lilly acquired Akouos in 2022 to enter the hearing loss gene therapy space, providing a major pharma competitor with the same AAV inner ear delivery approach and OTOF focus as Sensorion's SENS-501, but with vastly larger commercial infrastructure.

Emerging players

• ProQR Therapeutics: ProQR Therapeutics develops RNA-based therapies for genetic diseases including inherited forms of hearing loss, addressing an overlapping rare disease patient population with Sensorion's gene therapy programs but using a different (RNA editing) modality.

Others

• Cochlear Limited: Cochlear Limited is the global leader in implantable hearing devices and a strategic partner/investor in Sensorion, with a partnership to combine SENS-401 with cochlear implants. Comparable as an adjacent hearing health player and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sensorionph

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sensorion