Helus Pharma Appoints Michael Cola as Chief Executive Officer to Lead Next Phase of Scale and Execution

Executive Summary

• Helus Pharma announced the appointment of Michael Cola as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.
• The leadership change coincides with upcoming clinical milestones: Phase 2 data for HLP004 expected Q1 2026 and Phase 3 topline data for HLP003 anticipated Q4 2026.
• Mr. Cola brings 30+ years of neuroscience, rare‑disease, and specialty pharma experience, including senior roles at Shire, Astra‑Merck, AstraZeneca, and recent CEO tenure at Avalo Therapeutics.

Key Details

• New CEO: Michael Cola, former President of Shire PLC’s Specialty Pharmaceutical business; extensive background in CNS drug development, global commercialization, and capital formation.
• Effective Date: Immediate (as of Feb 10 2026).
• Strategic Context: Appointment made as Helus advances its pipeline toward key clinical inflection points—Phase 2 data for HLP004 this quarter and Phase 3 topline data for HLP003 in Q4 2026.
• Intellectual Property Portfolio: Over 350 global patent applications filed; more than 100 patents granted across the multi‑asset pipeline.
• Clinical Programs Highlighted:
• HLP003: Proprietary serotonergic agonist (NSA) in Phase 3 for adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder; holds FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation.
• HLP004: Proprietary NSA in Phase 2 for generalized anxiety disorder, with data expected Q1 2026.
• Board Commentary: Executive Chairman Eric So praised Mr. Cola’s “deep neuroscience expertise, global commercialization experience, and proven capital markets leadership.”
• CEO Statement: Michael Cola expressed enthusiasm about Helus’ pipeline, stating the company is “uniquely positioned to advance a new paradigm in the treatment of serious mental health disorders.”
• Historical Impact Highlights (Cola):
• Helped grow Shire from $5 B to $20 B market cap and contributed to its $62 B acquisition by Takeda.
• Part of founding team at Merck’s Astra‑Merck spin‑out that commercialized Prilosec, generating >$6 B annual revenue.
• Contact Information: Investor contacts (Josh Barer, George Tziras) and media contact (Johnny Tokarczyk) provided for follow‑up.

Notable Quotes

“Michael brings a rare combination of deep neuroscience expertise, global commercialization experience, and proven capital markets leadership,” – Eric So, Co‑Founder & Executive Chairman, Helus Pharma.

“I am honored to join Helus at this pivotal and energizing moment… I’m excited to work alongside the Board and the Helus team to build on this foundation and translate scientific progress into lasting patient and shareholder impact.” – Michael Cola, Chief Executive Officer, Helus Pharma.