Helus Pharma (NASDAQ: HELP) announced the addition of Dr. Robert Langer and Dr. Stephen Brannan to its Scientific Advisory Board as the clinical-stage pharmaceutical company advances its pipeline of novel serotonergic agonists for mental health conditions.

The company, which operates under the commercial name of Cybin Inc., develops synthetic molecules designed to activate serotonin pathways believed to promote neuroplasticity. The Scientific Advisory Board is chaired by Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, former Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Pfizer.

Dr. Langer leads the Langer Lab, described as the largest biomedical engineering laboratory globally. He has authored more than 1,600 scientific papers, holds over 1,500 issued and pending patents worldwide, and helped found more than 40 biotechnology companies, including Moderna Inc. His accolades include the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering and the United States National Medal of Science.

Dr. Brannan previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Karuna Pharmaceuticals and as Vice President and Therapeutic Area Lead for Neuroscience Clinical Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals, where he led development programs for mood and anxiety disorders.

Helus Pharma is currently developing HLP003, a proprietary compound in Phase 3 clinical development for major depressive disorder that has received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company is also advancing HLP004 in Phase 2 trials for generalized anxiety disorder.

"Dr. Langer is globally recognized for translating groundbreaking science into therapies that reach patients, and Dr. Brannan brings decades of leadership in advancing central nervous system programs through clinical development," said Eric So, interim chief executive officer of Helus Pharma.

The company operates in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Information in this article is based on a company press release.