Helus Pharma (NASDAQ: HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists, announced the appointment of Regina Donohue as chief people officer and Suresh Durgam, M.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board. These appointments come at a pivotal time as the company progresses its lead candidates through clinical development and prepares for potential commercialization.
Donohue brings extensive experience in human resources leadership, having most recently served as chief human resources officer at Intra-Cellular, where she built the company's people strategy and infrastructure, managing growth to over 1,000 employees as it transitioned into a commercial-stage organization. Intra-Cellular was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in April 2025. Her expertise in scaling organizations will be crucial as Helus Pharma expands its workforce and prepares for potential market entry.
Durgam, who served as executive vice president and chief medical officer at Intra-Cellular, has more than two decades of experience in CNS drug development, clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory strategy, and pharmacovigilance. He was instrumental in securing FDA approvals for CAPLYTA across multiple indications, demonstrating his ability to navigate complex regulatory pathways. His addition to the Scientific Advisory Board will provide invaluable guidance as Helus Pharma advances its pipeline of novel serotonergic agonists.
Helus Pharma CEO Michael Halstead emphasized that these appointments strengthen the company's organizational capabilities and scientific leadership as it advances its pipeline toward potential commercialization. The company is currently developing HLP003, a proprietary NSA in Phase 3 clinical development for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, which has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, HLP004, another proprietary NSA, is in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder. The company also has an extensive research portfolio of investigational NSAs.
The appointments reflect Helus Pharma's commitment to building a strong foundation for growth. With Donohue's proven track record in scaling human resources and Durgam's deep scientific and regulatory expertise, the company is well-positioned to navigate the challenges of late-stage development and potential commercialization. The company aims to address the large unmet need for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions through its proprietary NSAs, which are designed to activate serotonin pathways and promote neuroplasticity.
For more information on Helus Pharma, visit www.helus.com or follow the team on social media platforms. The latest news and updates are available in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HELP.
