Helix BioPharma Corp. Announces Appointment of Permanent

AURORA, ON--(Marketwired - Jan 12, 2016) - Helix BioPharma Corp. (hereinafter defined as "Helix" or the "Company" and listed on TSX & FSE: "HBP") ( TSX : HBP ) ( FRANKFURT : HBP ), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, announces that it has appointed Dr. Zbigniew Markowski as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Mr. Gary Littlejohn who was serving as Interim CEO.

Dr. Markowski comes with a diversified experience, having had a career in business, university and government. Among others, from 2006 until January 10, 2016 he served as Chairman of O.M. Finance Ltd, a private investment and consulting company; from 1998 to 2002, as vice-chairman of Prokom Investments SA, a Polish investment fund where he was responsible for the financial and pharmaceutical sectors and as Member of the Board of BIOTON SA, a pharmaceutical company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange ("WSE"); from 1993 to 2005 he was a leading coordinator for more than a dozen initial public offerings of Polish companies listed on the WSE. From 1995 he was member or Chairman of the Supervisory Board of many companies listed on the WSE, and additionally he served as chairman of the Audit Committees of CIECH SA, II NFI SA (one of Polish National Investments Funds), and ROBYG SA. In 1993, he served as Special Plenipotentiary to the Minister of Privatization and to the Minister of Foreign Trade and in 1994 he was appointed as Commercial Counselor of the Polish People's Republic in Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Markowski holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Gdansk.

Mr. Yvon Bastien announced his resignation as Chairman of the Board and will be replaced by Dr. Sven Rohmann, MD, PhD, MBA. This change, along with Dr. Markowski's appointment as CEO, are effective January 18, 2016. Mr. Littlejohn will assist Dr. Markowski with a transition plan. 

"The Board believes that Dr. Markowski will be of great value in enabling the Company to achieve financing on the WSE in order to fund its research and development activities, including the ongoing expansion of European Phase I/II clinical study in Poland," said Dr. Rohmann. "We thank Mr. Littlejohn for working closely with the Board in advancing Helix's clinical and strategic plans as Interim CEO," commented Dr. Rohmann. "We also thank Mr. Yvon Bastien for his contributions to Helix, especially his leadership of the Board and his commitment to good corporate governance," he concluded. 

About Helix BioPharma Corp.

Helix BioPharma Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the field of cancer therapy. The company is actively developing innovative products for the prevention and treatment of cancer based on its proprietary technologies. Helix's product development initiatives include its novel L-DOS47 new drug candidate. Helix is currently listed on the TSX and FSE under the symbol "HBP".

Forward-Looking Statements and Risks and Uncertainties

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, including, without limitation, those relating to Helix's financing needs and research and development activities, including its Phase I/II clinical study in Poland, which may be identified by words including, without limitation, "will", "believes", and other similar expressions, are intended to provide information about management's current plans and expectations regarding the conduct of the clinical study and the other operations of Helix.

Although Helix believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated and no assurance can be given that these expectations will be realized, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Risk factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, (i) the inherent uncertainty involved in scientific research and drug development; (ii) the risks associated with delay or inability to complete clinical trials successfully, including that patient recruitment for the Polish Phase I/II clinical trial for L-DOS47 does not continue as scheduled or at all, and the long lead times and high costs associated with obtaining regulatory approval to market any product which may result from successful completion of such trials; (iii) need to secure additional financing on terms satisfactory to Helix or at all; (iv) clinical trials that yield negative results, or results that do not justify future clinical development, including that the Polish Phase I/II clinical trial for L-DOS47 will yield negative results; and (v) those risks and uncertainties affecting the company as more fully described in Helix's most recent Annual Report, including under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors", filed under Helix's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com (together, the "Helix Risk Factors"). Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, that the Helix Risk Factors will not cause Helix's actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements and information are based on the beliefs, assumptions and expectations of Helix's management on the date of this news release, and Helix does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement or information should those beliefs, assumptions or expectations, or other circumstances change, except as required by law.