Helix Biopharma Announces Appointment Of A New Director And Leadership Transition Plans

AURORA, ON--(Marketwired - September 30, 2015) - Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP) (FRANKFURT: HBP), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today announced that Mr. Gary Littlejohn has been appointed as a director of Helix, effective as of September 23, 2015. To help facilitate a smooth leadership transition while Helix searches for a new permanent President and Chief Executive Officer, he has been appointed as a Consultant to Helix effective as of September 29, 2015. As previously disclosed, Mr. Robert Verhagen will continue to act as Helix’s President and Chief Executive Officer until November 1, 2015.

Mr. Yvon Bastien, the Chair of Helix’s board of directors said, “I look forward to working with Gary, and to continuing to build on the progress we have made over the past few years.” Mr. Littlejohn added, “This is an exciting time for Helix and I am looking forward to the opportunity to help continue to strengthen Helix and its business moving forward.”

Mr. Littlejohn brings over 30 years of experience in the financial and biopharmaceutical industries. From 2008 to 2015, he served as the Chief Executive Officer and Advisor to the Chairman of the Arab National Investment Company, the investment banking subsidiary of Arab National Bank located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and his previous experiences include service as executive vice-president and director of Ecopia BioSciences Inc., a publicly-listed Canadian biotechnology company and as a director and audit committee member of Aegera Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian privately-held biotechnology company. He has also held senior investment banking positions with bank-owned investment banks in Canada.

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 and its Topical Interferon Alpha-2b. Helix is currently listed on the TSX and FSE under the symbol “HBP”.

This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. Helix’s common shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an exemption from registration thereunder.

Forward-Looking Information and Risks and Uncertainties

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and information (collectively, “forward-looking information”) within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information means disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or other matters that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action and includes statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to Helix’s future business, operations, research and development, including Mr. Littlejohn’s service as President and Chief Executive Officer of Helix effective as of November 1, 2015 and Mr. Verhagen’s resignation becoming effective as of that date and other information in future periods. Forward-looking information may be identified by words including, without limitation, “will” and other similar expressions, which are intended to provide information about management’s current plans and expectations regarding the business and operations of Helix.

Although Helix believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information 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 that a suitable candidate for CEO will not be identified in a timely manner or at all, that Mr. Verhagen will cease to act as CEO prior to November 1, 2015 and that Mr. Littlejohn may be unwilling or unable to serve as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer as of that date, together with the other risk factors more fully described in Helix’s most recent Annual Information Form, 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 information, including, without limitation, that the Helix Risk Factors will not cause Helix’s actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking information.

Forward-looking information is 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 information should those beliefs, assumptions or expectations, or other circumstances change, except as required by law.