Helus Pharma (NASDAQ: HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP) has appointed Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, DFAPA, MFPM, to its board of directors, where she will also serve as chair of the company's Scientific Advisory Committee, subject to approval by Cboe Canada. Dr. Lewis-Hall brings more than four decades of experience spanning clinical care, research, academia, and senior biopharmaceutical leadership, including more than a decade on Pfizer's executive leadership team as executive vice president and chief medical officer. She has also held leadership roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pharmacia Corporation, and Eli Lilly and Company.
As a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and former advisor to the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Lewis-Hall will provide scientific, clinical, and regulatory governance across Helus' portfolio as the company advances its novel serotonergic agonist (NSA) programs targeting serious mental health conditions. The appointment underscores Helus Pharma's commitment to rigorous scientific oversight as it progresses its pipeline, which includes HLP003 in Phase 3 for major depressive disorder and HLP004 in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder.
Helus Pharma, the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc., founded in 2019, is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on developing proprietary NSAs designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity. The company's lead candidate, HLP003, has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, while HLP004 targets generalized anxiety disorder. The company also maintains an extensive research portfolio of investigational NSAs.
Dr. Lewis-Hall's appointment is expected to enhance the company's governance structure as it navigates late-stage clinical development and potential regulatory submissions. Her extensive experience in biopharmaceutical leadership and psychiatric medicine aligns with Helus' mission to address the large unmet need for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
For more information about Helus Pharma, visit www.helus.com or follow the team on social media. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/fcqsQ.
