Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP, OTC PINK: HBPCF, FRANKFURT: HBP0), a clinical-stage oncology company developing novel therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, announced significant changes to its Board of Directors effective September 28, 2026. The company appointed Karen Krumeich, Jamieson Bondarenko, Charmaine Lykins, and Dirk Brockstedt as new directors. Krumeich will also serve as Chair of the Board and Audit Committee. Concurrently, Jacek Antas, Malgorzata Laube, and Jerzy Leszczynski voluntarily resigned from the Board.
The appointments bring a diverse set of skills to Helix's leadership at a critical juncture. Karen Krumeich is a seasoned life sciences financial executive with experience as CFO at public and private companies, including Kazia Therapeutics and Soligenix, both with oncology programs. Jamieson Bondarenko, a Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Market Technician, brings capital markets expertise from roles at Eight Capital and Dundee Securities, and currently chairs the board of BriaCell Therapeutics. Charmaine Lykins, a biopharmaceutical commercial leader with over 30 years of experience, has held senior roles at Karuna Therapeutics and Acadia Pharmaceuticals, contributing to the commercialization of multiple blockbuster therapies. Dirk Brockstedt, a scientist with more than 25 years in research and clinical development, previously served as Chief Scientific Officer of RAPT Therapeutics and EVP of R&D at Aduro BioTech, playing key roles in taking both companies public.
"We are very pleased to welcome Karen, Jamieson, Charmaine and Dirk to Helix's Board," said Thomas Mehrling, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Helix BioPharma. "Together, these Board members bring an exceptional breadth of complementary expertise across biotechnology leadership, scientific and clinical development, capital markets, corporate governance, and commercialization. Their collective experience significantly strengthens our Board at an important stage in Helix's evolution."
The board renewal is a strategic move to bolster governance as Helix advances its oncology pipeline, which includes L-DOS47 for non-small cell lung cancer, LEUMUNA for post-transplant leukemia relapse, and GEMCEDA for advanced solid tumors. The new directors' combined experience in drug development, commercialization, and finance is expected to provide valuable guidance for the company's strategic objectives and long-term value creation. Following the changes, the Board comprises six directors, four of whom are independent, and the Audit Committee is fully independent, chaired by Krumeich.
Krumeich expressed her enthusiasm: "I am honored to join Helix as Chair at an important stage in the Company's development. The Board brings together complementary scientific, commercial, financial and capital markets expertise, and I look forward to working with Thomas and the management team as Helix advances its pipeline and executes on its strategic priorities."
The outgoing directors were thanked for their service. The changes reflect Helix's commitment to maintaining a robust governance framework as it navigates the complexities of clinical development and seeks to deliver innovative therapies for underserved patient populations. For more information, visit https://www.helixbiopharma.com/. Details of the company's periodic reports are available on its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.
