Helus Pharma Co-Founders Exit Executive Roles; Mark Lawson Named Board Chair
HELP has more than doubled off its 52-week low of $3.76.
Summary
Helus Pharma's two co-founders, Eric So and Paul Glavine, have left their executive and consulting roles but remain directors, and board member Mark Lawson is now independent Chair. The company still expects Phase 3 APPROACH topline data for HLP003 in Q4 2026.
Key Events · Executive and Board Changes · HELP
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Co-Founders Leave Executive Roles
Eric So (President and Executive Chairman, formerly Interim CEO) and Paul Glavine (Chief Growth Officer, formerly COO and CEO) stepped down from executive and consulting roles but continue to serve on the Board of Directors.
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Mark Lawson Named Independent Chair
Lawson, a private equity and investment banking executive and a director since November 2020, becomes independent Chair effective immediately; he also chairs the Audit Committee. Eric So was given the honorary title Chairman Emeritus.
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Phase 3 Readout Still Q4 2026
The company reiterates it expects topline data from the Phase 3 APPROACH pivotal study of HLP003 in major depressive disorder in Q4 2026 — the next binary event for the stock.
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No Terms Disclosed
The release states no reason beyond a 'next stage of growth' framing and discloses no severance, separation payments, or consulting compensation for the departing executives.
Analysis · HELP · Life Sciences
Both co-founders are stepping out of operating roles, though both stay on the Board: Eric So, who had been President and Executive Chairman and previously Interim CEO, and Paul Glavine, Chief Growth Officer and former CEO. That removes the two people most associated with the company's founding story at the exact moment it is asking investors to judge a pivotal Phase 3 readout. The counterweight is continuity: Michael Halstead, recently appointed CEO, keeps the operating seat, and Lawson, a director since November 2020 and audit committee chair, takes the independent chair role. The filing gives no reason beyond 'next stage of growth' and no severance or compensation terms, so the practical question is whether the departures are orderly succession or a disagreement — the text supports only the former. Topline Phase 3 APPROACH data for HLP003 in major depressive disorder is still guided to Q4 2026, which is now the single event that will define the stock.
How filings like this one have moved
In the 30 days to Oct 27, 2026, 29.9% of the 1374 measured filings Wiseek scored 7 moved their stock by 5% or more by the next session's close. The median move was -0.12%. These are measured outcomes after filings of this importance, not a forecast for this one.
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At the time of this filing, HELP was trading at $10.63 on NASDAQ in the Life Sciences sector, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.4M. The 52-week trading range was $3.76 to $15.15. This filing was assessed with neutral market sentiment and an importance score of 7 out of 10.