Clinical-stage pharmaceutical company Helus Pharma has announced that Michael Cola has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer at the request of the Board of Directors, with co-founder and Executive Chairman Eric So appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer effective immediately, according to BioSpace.

So previously served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and brings continuity of leadership to the Nasdaq-listed company, which develops novel serotonergic agonists targeting serious unmet needs in mental health. The Board has initiated a search process to identify a permanent successor.

Eric So said: "Helus Pharma was founded with a clear mission: to advance innovative therapies that address serious unmet needs in mental health. With a strong foundation of clinical progress, regulatory recognition, and dedicated teams, we remain well-positioned to continue advancing our programs."

So added that the company's priorities remain focused on executing its clinical strategy, with particular attention on the upcoming topline data readout from the APPROACH trial of HLP003 expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.

HLP003 is a proprietary novel serotonergic agonist in Phase 3 clinical development for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder, having received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration. The company is also advancing HLP004, a Phase 2 asset targeting generalised anxiety disorder.

Helus Pharma, the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc., operates across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, developing synthetic molecules designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity.

Access the full story for further detail on the Helus Pharma leadership transition and clinical pipeline.