Helus Pharma Announces Topline Results in Phase 2 Signal Detection Study for HLP004 in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
MWN-AI** Summary
Helus Pharma, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, has announced promising topline results from its Phase 2 signal detection study examining HLP004, a novel treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This study focused on adults experiencing moderate-to-severe GAD symptoms despite ongoing standard of care (SoC) antidepressant therapies. The findings reveal a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) scores, showing an improvement of approximately 10 points over six weeks, with a significance level of p<0.0001.
The study enrolled 36 patients, who were randomized to receive either 20 mg HLP004 or a placebo. Key outcomes included a 67% response rate and a 39% remission rate at six months, indicating durable treatment effects. Importantly, HLP004 was well-tolerated, with transient adverse events reported and no serious drug-related complications.
Notably, patients in the 20 mg treatment arm experienced a mean reduction of 10.4 points on the HAM-A scale, falling well above the improvement seen with SoC alone. With acute effects lasting about 90 minutes and a discharge time of approximately three hours, HLP004 aligns well with current interventional psychiatric treatment models.
Dr. Andrew Cutler, a clinical professor, highlighted the significant improvements over standard treatments, while CEO Michael Cola emphasized the unmet needs for GAD patients. Helus Pharma is concurrently developing HLP003 for major depressive disorder, showcasing a robust pipeline focused on addressing mental health challenges.
This breakthrough reinforces Helus Pharma's commitment to developing innovative serotonergic agonists for significant mental health conditions, with further data anticipated for HLP003 in late 2026.
MWN-AI** Analysis
Helus Pharma's recent announcement highlighting the promising Phase 2 results for its investigational drug HLP004 in treating generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) constitutes a significant event for investors evaluating mental health therapeutics' landscape. The impressive 10.4-point reduction in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) at six weeks, coupled with a 67% response rate and 39% remission rate at the six-month mark, positions HLP004 favorably against current standard of care (SoC) treatments.
Given that GAD affects over 20 million U.S. adults—with many failing to respond to existing therapies—HLP004 potentially addresses a substantial unmet medical need. Its short in-clinic treatment experience, alongside the drug's favorable safety profile (no serious adverse events reported), enhances its commercial viability. These attributes not only suggest a promising market entry but also highlight the scalability of clinical service models using HLP004.
For investors looking at Helus Pharma (Nasdaq: HELP), several factors warrant attention:
1. **Market Potential**: The vast population of GAD patients provides a large target market. A successful launch of HLP004 could catalyze significant revenue streams, especially with no recent approved adjunctive treatments.
2. **Pipeline Development**: Beyond HLP004, the pipeline, including HLP003 for major depressive disorder, could further diversify the company’s offerings and revenue potential.
3. **Intellectual Property Position**: Helus Pharma's broad IP portfolio adds a layer of protection and competitive advantage, bolstering investors' confidence in sustained market presence.
4. **Market Sentiment and Volatility**: Given the stock's clinical-stage nature, price volatility is probable as upcoming data and market entrance strategies unfold. Investors should monitor clinical trial results and regulatory interactions closely.
In summary, Helus Pharma showcases significant promise with HLP004, coupled with supportive data that could enhance its market share in treating GAD. Investors should weigh the opportunities against the inherent clinical risks common in biotech investments.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
- Statistically significant (p<0.0001) and clinically meaningful improvement in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (“HAM-A”) of ~10 points on top of Standard of Care (“SoC”) at 6 weeks
- Durable effects sustained through at least 6 months
- In Phase 1 trial most participants were ready for discharge within 3 hours1; Acute effects lasted ~90 minutes
- Generally well-tolerated, adverse events were transient, with no drug related serious adverse events recorded
- At six months, the pooled study population showed 67% responders and 39% of patients were in remission (see Figure 1 below)
Figure 1
This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purpose of the Company's prospectus supplement dated December 30, 2025, to its short form base shelf prospectus dated September 17, 2025, as amended on December 19, 2025.
NEW YORK and TORONTO, March 05, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helus Pharma (Nasdaq: HELP; Cboe CA: HELP), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel serotonergic agonists (“NSAs”) for serious mental health conditions, today announced topline results from a Phase 2 signal detection study evaluating HLP004 as a potential treatment for adults with moderate-to-severe generalized anxiety disorder (“GAD”) who remained symptomatic despite ongoing SoC antidepressant therapy, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and related agents.
GAD affects more than 20 million adults in the United States, and approximately half of patients treated for GAD fail to respond to initial first-line therapy.2,3 No adjunctive pharmacologic treatment for GAD has ever been approved. No new monotherapy has been approved in almost two decades.
In the Phase 2 signal detection study, 36 patients were randomized 2-to-1 active-to-placebo to HLP004 20 mg or 2mg and received two intramuscular doses three weeks apart. Patients were followed through Week 12, with continued observational follow-up extending up to one year. Participants had an average baseline HAM-A score of 22 and a General Anxiety Disorder-7 score of greater than or equal to 10 at screening.
All study participants were already being treated, and continued treatment throughout the trial, with SoC medications for generalized anxiety disorder. The 10-point improvement in anxiety symptoms is above and beyond what was already being seen with SoC treatment.
Key findings include:
- Clinically meaningful efficacy: Patients that received 20mg HLP004 adjunctive to SoC therapy achieved mean reduction of 10.4-points (p<0.0001) in the HAM-A from baseline at six weeks.
- Efficacy in difficult to treat population: Study population consisted of moderate-to-severe patients who remained symptomatic despite ongoing antidepressant or anxiolytic therapy.
- Durable remission and robust response over time:
- At six months, the pooled study population showed 67% responders and 39% remitters.
- Participants randomized to both 20 mg and 2mg dosing arms experienced meaningful subjective effects and showed clinically significant responses over SoC, with 59% meeting the criteria for response and 32% for remission in the 20mg arm and a 30% responder and remitter rate in the 2mg arm at week 6.
- Commercially scalable clinic time: Short in-clinic treatment experience with acute drug effects lasting approximately 90 minutes and discharge readiness within approximately three hours1, fitting within the treatment paradigm of existing interventional psychiatry clinics.
- Well tolerated: Favorable tolerability profile with no drug-related serious adverse events or suicidality-related safety signals.
“These Phase 2 results support the continued development of HLP004, and I am encouraged by the magnitude of improvement observed over standard of care treatments, together with the rapid onset and short in-clinic treatment experience for this patient population with limited options,” noted Dr. Andrew Cutler, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Senior Advisor to Helus Pharma.
Michael Cola, Chief Executive Officer of Helus Pharma, said, “Patients living with generalized anxiety disorder remain significantly underserved, with many continuing to struggle despite currently available treatments. We are encouraged by these data and the potential for HLP004 to bring hope to GAD patients. The Company’s broad intellectual property portfolio has been leveraged once again to create what we feel are best in class products and we are further excited to release the data on HLP003 targeted at major depressive disorder in the fourth quarter of 2026.”
For additional information, please access our webcast, which is available on the Company's investor relations website on the Events and Presentations page.
About HLP004
HLP004 is an investigational intramuscular deuterated serotonergic agonist designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity. The program is being developed as a potential adjunctive treatment for patients with generalized anxiety disorder who remain symptomatic despite existing pharmacologic therapies.
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 - novel serotonergic agonists: 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.
Notes
1. In Phase 1 study at 30 mg dose?.
2. Ringeisen H, et al. Mental and Substance Use Disorders Prevalence Study: Findings Report. RTI International; 2023.
3. Fagan H, et al. Pharmacological Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Current Practice and Future Directions. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 2023.
Figure 1 Notes:
1) Gueorguieva, et.al. Lancet Psychiatry, 2017. 4(3):230-237.
2) Rutherford, et al. Depress Anxiety, 2015. 32(12):944-57.
3) Berwian, I.M., et al. Psychol Med, 2017. 47(3):426-437.
4) Jones, B.D.M., et al.JAMA Network Open, 2021. 4(9):e2125531-e2125531.
5) Davidson, et al. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 2008. 18(9):p. 673-81.
6) Quitkin, et al. Arch GenPsychiatry, 1984. 41:p. 782-786.
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 expectations of progressing the HLP004 program toward development; the potential of HLP004 as a scalable treatment option for patients living with GAD; and 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
josh.barer@astrpartners.com
George Tziras
Chief Business Officer
Helus Pharma
1-866-292-4601
irteam@helus.com – or – media@helus.com
Media Contact:
Johnny Tokarczyk
RXMD
Public Relations Director
jtokarczyk@rxmedyn.com
(914) 772-7562
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/728bf286-24d0-40b0-a151-beaced3735d7.
FAQ**
How does the statistically significant reduction in HAM-A scores reflect on Cybin Inc. HELP's potential market positioning for treating generalized anxiety disorder compared to existing SoC options?
What are the long-term implications for patient care if Cybin Inc. HELP's HLP004 maintains its robust response rates and durable effects beyond six months?
Can you elaborate on how Cybin Inc. HELP plans to scale its treatment model, given the short in-clinic experiences observed in the trial?
How do the transient adverse events reported in the study influence investor confidence in the safety profile of Cybin Inc. HELP's HLP004 for generalized anxiety disorder?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Contakt World Technologies Corp. (CNQC: HELP:CC).
NASDAQ: HELP:CC
HELP:CC Trading
2.63% G/L:
$0.195 Last:
188,988 Volume:
$0.225 Open:
