Helus Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists (NSAs), announced the appointment of Regina Donohue as chief people officer and Suresh Durgam, M.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board. The appointments come as the company advances its pipeline toward potential commercialization, aiming to address unmet needs in mental health treatments.
Donohue brings extensive experience in human resources, having most recently served as chief human resources officer at Intra-Cellular, where she built the company’s people strategy and infrastructure, managing its growth to over 1,000 employees as it transitioned into a commercial-stage organization. Intra-Cellular was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in April 2025, underscoring Donohue’s role in scaling a company to successful commercial operation.
Durgam adds more than two decades of expertise in CNS drug development, clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory strategy, and pharmacovigilance. He served as executive vice president and chief medical officer at Intra-Cellular, where he played a key role in securing FDA approvals for CAPLYTA across multiple indications. His regulatory and clinical insights are expected to guide Helus Pharma’s development of its NSA pipeline.
Helus Pharma CEO Michael Halstead emphasized that these appointments strengthen the company’s organizational capabilities and scientific leadership, positioning it for the next phase of growth. 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 is in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder, with an extensive research portfolio of investigational NSAs.
These leadership additions are critical as Helus Pharma aims to improve the treatment landscape for depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. The company’s proprietary NSAs are designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity, offering potential durable improvements in mental health. With the appointments, Helus Pharma is better equipped to navigate the complexities of clinical development, regulatory approvals, and organizational scaling as it moves toward commercialization.
The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. For updates, visit Helus Pharma or follow the team on social media. The full press release is available at IBN.
