Helus Pharma (NASDAQ: HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP) has entered into a collaboration with TARA Mind, working alongside Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), to support clinical trial recruitment for its PARADIGM HLP003 Phase 3 program. The program is focused on major depressive disorder, and the partnership aims to expand mental health awareness within the veteran community. This initiative aligns with the April 18, 2026 Executive Order on accelerating treatments for serious mental illness, as Helus advances its FDA Breakthrough Therapy-designated HLP003 program and broader pipeline of novel serotonergic agonists.
The collaboration leverages the networks of TARA Mind and VETS to enhance veteran engagement in clinical research. Helus Pharma is developing HLP003, a proprietary novel serotonergic agonist (NSA), which has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. The company is also developing HLP004, another proprietary NSA, in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder, along with an extensive research portfolio of investigational NSAs.
Helus Pharma, the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc., is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to developing synthetic molecules designed to activate serotonin pathways that promote neuroplasticity. The company aims to address the large unmet need for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. With class-leading data, Helus Pharma seeks to improve the treatment landscape through NSAs that aim to provide durable improvements in mental health.
The partnership is particularly significant given the challenges in recruiting veterans for clinical trials. By working with TARA Mind and VETS, Helus Pharma expects to increase awareness and access to its Phase 3 study, potentially accelerating the development of new treatments for a population that often faces barriers to mental health care. The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. For more information, visit www.helus.com.
This collaboration underscores the growing focus on addressing mental health issues among veterans, a group disproportionately affected by conditions like major depressive disorder. The executive order mentioned highlights the urgency of developing effective treatments, and Helus Pharma's Breakthrough Therapy designation suggests that HLP003 may offer significant advantages over existing therapies. The company's pipeline, including HLP004 for generalized anxiety disorder, further demonstrates its commitment to tackling a range of mental health conditions.
For investors, the partnership may signal strengthened clinical trial execution and potential for faster regulatory pathways. The full press release is available at https://ibn.fm/o9dCH. More news on HELP can be found in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HELP.
