Context Therapeutics, a biotechnology company dedicated to creating new medicines for cancer, fibrosis and neurodegenerative disease, has entered into agreements with three research partners. The company will collaborate with experts in the field of Sigma1 protein and its role in disease biology at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Synergie Lyon Cancer. Context will work with investigators at these institutions to determine the role of Sigma1 in certain animal disease models and to evaluate the activity of its proprietary Sigma1 inhibitors in biopsy explant models, animal models, and human cellular systems.

Context is forging a new and different path for the creation of first-in-class treatments for cancer, fibrosis and neurodegenerative disease, building on pioneering leadership of Dr. Felix Kim, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, in the allosteric modulation of Sigma1. Key to the company’s advancement is complementing its internal expertise by accessing unique capabilities of leading research collaborators in the Sigma1 field. These collaborations assist Context in rapidly building its biology infrastructure to support the company’s significant achievements in chemistry. Under the terms of the collaborations Context will work with scientists at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Synergie Lyon Cancer as follows. Financial details were not disclosed.

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Elahe Mostaghel, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator): Role of Sigma1 and effect of proprietary Sigma1 inhibitors on androgen receptor in animal models of castration resistant prostate cancer (CPRC).
• Fondation Synergie Lyon Cancer (Pierre Saintigny, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator): Validation of Sigma1 biomarker for patient enrichment in prostate cancer biopsy explant model.
• Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cory Hogaboam, Ph.D., principal investigator): Role of Sigma1 and effect of proprietary Sigma1 inhibitors in pulmonary fibrosis.

“Context prides itself on being deeply connected with a broad network of scientists conducting cutting-edge research on the role of Sigma1 in the biology of cancer, fibrosis, and neurodegenerative disease,” said Martin Lehr, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Context Therapeutics. “These collaborators will help us expand our biology effort and advance our understanding of how best to target Sigma1 and maximize the potential our inhibitors may have for patients.”