Helus Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists (NSAs), has announced two key appointments to its executive team and scientific advisory board. The company named Regina Donohue as Chief People Officer and Suresh Durgam, M.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), according to a press release.
Donohue brings extensive human resources leadership experience from her previous role 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 is expected to help Helus Pharma strengthen its organizational capabilities as it advances its pipeline toward potential commercialization.
Dr. Durgam, who has over two decades of experience in CNS drug development, clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory strategy, and pharmacovigilance, most recently served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Intra-Cellular. During his tenure, he played a key role in securing FDA approvals for CAPLYTA across multiple indications. His insights will be invaluable to Helus Pharma’s scientific leadership as the company progresses its proprietary NSA candidates.
The appointments come at a critical time for Helus Pharma, which is developing HLP003, a proprietary NSA currently in Phase 3 clinical development for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. HLP003 has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, the company is advancing HLP004, another proprietary NSA in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder. Helus Pharma aims to address the large unmet need for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions through its novel approach.
Helus Pharma’s CEO, Michael Halstead, expressed confidence that Donohue and Dr. Durgam will significantly contribute to the company’s growth and scientific advancement. The appointments are part of a broader strategy to strengthen the company’s leadership and expertise as it moves closer to commercialization.
Helus Pharma, the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc., was founded in 2019 and is committed to helping minds heal by developing novel serotonergic agonists that are designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity. The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.
For more information on this announcement, visit the full press release at https://ibn.fm/Z7rgQ.
