ChemDiv, Context Therapeutics and Torrey Pines Investment Announce CNS Co-Development Agreement

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- ChemDiv Inc., a fully integrated California-based CRO, announced that it has entered into a three-way co-development agreement with Context Therapeutics and Torrey Pines Investment to advance research and development in the area of Sigma1 dysfunction associated with early onset neurodegenerative diseases. Under the terms of the collaboration, ChemDiv will grant Context the access to its unique integrated discovery platform, while Torrey Pines Investment will invest in Context and provide network resources to support pre-commercial research and development.

Context has been engaged in the advancement of an alternative approach to treatment of various diseases in the fields of oncology and neurology that targets Sigma1 ? an essential regulator of mechanisms and pathways of cellular protein homeostasis, trafficking, and immune system regulation. Within the framework of this partnership, ChemDiv will capitalize on its comprehensive resources and extensive experience in modern drug discovery to help Context expand its pipeline of treatments against Sigma1 mutations that are associated with severe early onset neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS and Alzheimer's.

"Sigma1 provides a very exciting new R&D target that could offer an alternative to those patients whose needs cannot be met with existing treatments," comments Martin Lehr, Co-Founder and CEO at Context Therapeutics. "We are looking forward to the fruits of this collaboration, and hope that our collective efforts will streamline the development of a potent cure for Sigma1 associated neurodegenerative diseases around the globe."

"We at ChemDiv are happy to be involved in such a multifaceted project, where we can really put our R&D capabilities to use and help our partners accelerate from target ID to lead optimization and beyond," adds Rouslan Michtchenko, Sr. Director Business Development at ChemDiv. "Our aim here is to fully utilize our accelerated platform and expertise in drug discovery to deliver quality leads to our partners."

Ron Demuth, President of Torrey Pines Investment, comments, "In this collaboration, Torrey Pines is investing in Context's very promising CNS project based on significantly de-risked active molecules in the framework of a proven risk-share collaborative platform that consistently delivers cost-effective R&D results from the partners' joint potential. This investment is a bet on the Context team and a bet on ChemDiv as a proven outsource leader. Our role in this deal is as an investment partner, plus - we are also committed to adding value via our product knowledge, network, and execution expertise to help drive this collaboration to its ultimate goal of developing a novel safe and efficient treatment for Sigma1-related CNS indications."

About ChemDiv

ChemDiv is a recognized global leader in drug discovery solutions. Over the past 25+ years the ChemDiv team has delivered hundreds of leads, drug candidates and new drug approvals in the areas of CNS, oncology, virology, inflammation, immunology, cardio and metabolic diseases to its pharma, biotech and academic partners around the globe. ChemDiv's integrated drug discovery and risk-share collaborative platforms allow for an accelerated, cost-effective R&D process aimed at rapidly bringing a project from target ID to Phase 3 clinical candidate and beyond. http://www.chemdiv.com/

About Context Therapeutics

Context Therapeutics is a private, Philadelphia, PA-based biotechnology company dedicated to creating new medicines to treat hormone responsive cancers. We are building Context Therapeutics to become a global company that will discover, develop and market groundbreaking cancer treatments to patients around the world, eliminating the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis. One of Context's programs, a Sigma1 inhibitor for prostate cancer, has also shown promise in ALS and dementia. Through a co-development partnership with ChemDiv Inc., Context will explore the potential of Sigma1 in ALS and dementia. For more information on Context, visit www.contexttherapeutics.com.

About Torrey Pines Investment

Torrey Pines Investment, founded in 2002, is a specialty life-science investment company located in San Diego that invests in early development-stage assets from international pharma and biotech partners in the CNS, oncology, and virology areas to bring them to commercial success through pharma partnering and M&A. Learn more at http://torreypinesinv.com/

CONTACT:  Ronald Demuth, [email protected], 858-724-0581

SOURCE ChemDiv Inc.