Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 27, 2026
Helus Pharma Co-Founders Step Down, Mark Lawson Named Board Chair
TLDR
- Helus Pharma's leadership reshuffle positions it to advance HLP003 and HLP004, potentially capturing advantage in the mental health treatment market.
- Helus Pharma co-founders stepped down from executive roles but remain on the board, and Mark Lawson was appointed independent chair to support the new CEO.
- Helus Pharma aims to heal minds by developing novel serotonergic agonists for depression and anxiety, addressing a large unmet need.
- Helus Pharma anticipates topline data from its Phase 3 APPROACH study of HLP003 for major depressive disorder in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Impact - Why it Matters
This leadership transition comes at a pivotal time for Helus Pharma as it advances HLP003 toward Phase 3 topline data in 2026 and continues developing HLP004. The appointment of an independent chair with deep financial expertise and the recent addition of a new CEO signal a maturation of the company’s governance structure, which could enhance investor confidence and strategic decision-making. For patients suffering from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, the progress of Helus Pharma’s novel serotonergic agonists offers hope for new treatment options that may provide durable improvements. The company’s focus on innovation in mental health remains unchanged, and the continued involvement of its co-founders on the board ensures continuity. As the clinical programs advance, successful outcomes could address significant unmet needs in mental health care and potentially reshape treatment paradigms.
Summary
Helus Pharma(TM) (NASDAQ: HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists for mental health treatments, has announced a significant leadership transition. Co-founders Eric So and Paul Glavine have stepped down from their executive and consulting roles but will remain on the board of directors. So, who previously served as president and executive chairman, has been named chairman emeritus, while Glavine, formerly chief growth officer, will continue to support the company through his board position. The company also appointed Mark Lawson as independent chair of the board, effective immediately. Lawson, a board member since November 2020, brings over 20 years of private equity and investment banking experience. These changes follow the recent appointment of Michael Halstead as CEO and are intended to support Helus Pharma’s next stage of development. Both co-founders expressed confidence in the current leadership team.
The company remains focused on advancing its clinical programs, including HLP003 and HLP004. HLP003, a proprietary novel serotonergic agonist (NSA), is in Phase 3 clinical development for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder and has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company anticipates reporting topline data from its Phase 3 APPROACH pivotal study of HLP003 in the fourth quarter of 2026. HLP004, also a proprietary NSA, is in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder. Helus Pharma aims to improve the treatment landscape through the introduction of NSAs that may provide durable improvements in mental health. For more information, visit www.helus.com.
TinyGems, a specialized communications platform focused on innovative small-cap and mid-cap companies, disseminated the news. TinyGems is part of the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN, which provides wire solutions, editorial syndication, press release enhancement, social media distribution, and corporate communications solutions. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/ayQkS.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN). Read the original source here, Helus Pharma Co-Founders Step Down, Mark Lawson Named Board Chair
