Helus Pharma(TM) (NASDAQ: HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists for mental health treatments, announced a leadership transition under which co-founders Eric So and Paul Glavine have stepped down from their executive and consulting roles while retaining positions on the board of directors. So previously served as president and executive chairman, and Glavine served as chief growth officer. The company also appointed Mark Lawson as independent chair of the board, effective immediately, and named So chairman emeritus.
Lawson has served on the board since November 2020 and brings more than 20 years of private equity and investment banking experience. The changes follow the recent appointment of Michael Halstead as CEO and are intended to support the company’s next stage of development. Both co-founders expressed confidence in the current leadership team and will continue supporting Helus Pharma through their board positions.
The leadership realignment comes as Helus Pharma remains focused on advancing its HLP003 and HLP004 clinical programs. The company continues to anticipate reporting topline data from its Phase 3 APPROACH pivotal study of HLP003 for major depressive disorder in the fourth quarter of 2026. HLP003 has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, while HLP004 is in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder.
For investors, the shift separates day-to-day management from board oversight at a critical time for the company. The appointment of an independent chair with deep financial experience may strengthen governance as Helus Pharma approaches a major clinical readout. The retention of both co-founders on the board provides continuity, while the recent addition of a CEO suggests a structure focused on execution. The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and its progress on HLP003 could have implications for the treatment landscape for depression, where unmet need remains large.
Helus Pharma is the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc., founded in 2019. The company is committed to helping minds heal by developing proprietary novel serotonergic agonists, synthetic molecules designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity. More information is available at www.helus.com.
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