Helus Pharma Strengthens Executive Team with Appointment of Jill Conwell as Chief People Officer
- Proven human resources and organizational strategist brings more than two decades of leadership across the pharmaceutical industry
- Appointment supports Helus Pharma's continued maturation as the company advances its novel clinical pipeline
NEW YORK and TORONTO, March 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helus PharmaTM (NASDAQ:HELP) (Cboe CA: HELP), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to helping minds heal by developing novel serotonergic agonists ("NSAs"), today announced the appointment of Jill Conwell as Chief People Officer, effective immediately.
Conwell brings more than two decades of leadership experience in the life sciences industry, with expertise spanning organizational strategy, talent development, corporate communications, investor relations, and building commercial teams. Throughout her career, she has helped biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies design and scale organizations to support evolving business strategies, including periods of rapid growth, pipeline advancement, and corporate transformation.
"Jill has a proven ability to help life sciences companies build and align teams, organizational strategies, and processes to support ambitious growth," said Michael Cola, Chief Executive Officer of Helus Pharma. "As Helus Pharma advances our clinical programs and prepares for the next phase of growth, Jill's experience will be invaluable in helping us attract top talent, advance our culture, and scale the organization to support the business."
Conwell has held senior leadership roles at Aclaris Therapeutics, Idera Pharmaceuticals, and Shire Pharmaceuticals, where she was an integral member of executive leadership and partnered closely with boards. In addition to leading human resources functions, she has also worked across corporate communications and investor relations, bringing a broad strategic perspective to companies navigating growth and change.
"I'm excited to join Helus Pharma at such a pivotal time for the company," said Conwell. "Helus Pharma is advancing an innovative approach to addressing serious mental health conditions, and I value the opportunity to help the team execute on our scientific and strategic goals while maintaining a strong, collaborative, and mission-driven culture."
Conwell holds an MBA in Strategic Management and Organizational Management from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia.
About Helus Pharma
Helus Pharma™, the commercial operating name of Cybin Inc. (the "Company" or "Helus Pharma") is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company committed to helping minds heal by developing proprietary NSAs: synthetic molecules designed to activate serotonin pathways that are believed to promote neuroplasticity. The Company's proprietary NSAs are intended to address the large unmet need for people who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
With class leading data, Helus Pharma aims to improve the treatment landscape through the introduction of NSAs that aim to provide durable improvements in mental health. Helus Pharma is currently developing HLP003, a proprietary NSA, in Phase 3 clinical development for the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder that has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and HLP004, also a proprietary NSA in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder. Additionally, Helus Pharma has an extensive research portfolio of investigational NSAs.
The Company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. For Company updates and to learn more about Helus Pharma, visit www.helus.com or follow the team on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. Helus PharmaTM is a trademark of Cybin Corp.
Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this news release relating to the Company are forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "potential", "possible", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Company's plans to engineer proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens for mental health conditions.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the NSA market; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for growth; political, social and environmental uncertainties; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates; implications of disease outbreaks on the Company's operations; and the risk factors set out in each of the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2025, and the Company's annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2025, which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.
The Company makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about the Company's proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding NSAs or HLP003, HLP004 and other programs of the Company. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of NSAs, HLP003, HLP004 or other programs of the Company can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Rigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. If Helus Pharma cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on the Company's performance and operations.
Neither Cboe Canada, nor the Nasdaq Global Market stock exchange, have approved or disapproved the contents of this news release and are not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.
Investor Contact:
Josh Barer
astr partners
Managing Director
(908) 578-6478
[email protected]
George Tziras
Chief Business Officer
Helus Pharma
1-866-292-4601
[email protected] – or – [email protected]
Media Contact:
Johnny Tokarczyk
RXMD
Public Relations Director
[email protected]
(914) 772-7562
