Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP, OTC PINK: HBPCF, FRANKFURT: HBP0), a clinical-stage oncology company developing therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, announced on September 28, 2026, the appointment of Karen Krumeich, Jamieson Bondarenko, Charmaine Lykins, and Dirk Brockstedt to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Ms. Krumeich will also serve as Chair of the Board and Audit Committee. Concurrently, Jacek Antas, Malgorzata Laube, and Jerzy Leszczynski have voluntarily resigned from the Board. The changes are part of the company's ongoing board renewal, bringing complementary experience in biotechnology leadership, corporate governance, finance, scientific and clinical development, commercialization, and capital markets.
The appointments come at a critical juncture for Helix, which is advancing its pipeline led by L-DOS47, a clinical-stage antibody-enzyme conjugate being developed as a combination therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Additional candidates include LEUMUNA™, a pre-IND oral immune checkpoint modulator for post-transplant leukemia relapse, and GEMCEDA™, a pre-IND gemcitabine prodrug for advanced solid tumors. The new board members' expertise is expected to support the company's strategic objectives and long-term value creation.
Thomas Mehrling, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Helix BioPharma, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Karen, Jamieson, Charmaine and Dirk to Helix's Board. 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. We believe their strategic insight, industry relationships and proven leadership will be invaluable as we advance our oncology pipeline, execute our strategic objectives, and position Helix for sustainable, long-term value creation for our shareholders." Dr. Mehrling also thanked the departing directors for their service.
Karen Krumeich is an experienced life sciences financial executive with expertise in venture and public equity financing, investor relations, strategic planning, corporate governance, business development, and operations. She has served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for several public and private life-sciences companies, including Kazia Therapeutics, TheraVectys, and Soligenix, bringing direct experience supporting companies with oncology programs in development. She currently serves as fractional Chief Financial Officer with the Lisa Stone Group and as angel investor and Managing Director of Golden Seeds. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo College of Pharmacy and successfully completed the CPA examination at postgraduate level.
Jamieson Bondarenko, CFA, CMT, is an active investor, capital markets executive, and public company director with experience advising early-stage life sciences companies on capital markets and corporate development strategy. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and as a capital markets advisor to MustGrow Biologics Corp. Previously, he held senior equity capital markets and investment banking roles at Eight Capital and Dundee Securities, following roles at Wellington West Capital Markets and HSBC Securities (Canada).
Charmaine Lykins, MBA, is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive and commercial leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning commercial strategy and execution, product launch and lifecycle management, market development, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Transneural Therapeutics, a preclinical-stage company developing novel therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders, and as strategic advisor to several predominantly CNS-focused biotechnology and healthcare organizations. Previously, she held senior commercial leadership roles at Karuna Therapeutics, MapLight Therapeutics, and Acadia Pharmaceuticals, following earlier roles at Lundbeck, Eli Lilly, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals (now Sumitomo Pharma). Over her career, she has contributed to the commercialization and early commercial strategy of multiple first- and best-in-class therapies, including COBENFY®, NUPLAZID®, REXULTI®, ABILIFY MAINTENA®, LATUDA®, CYMBALTA®, PROZAC®, and ZYPREXA®. She holds an MBA in International Business from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Honors Humanities from Ball State University.
Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D., is a biotechnology executive and scientist with more than 25 years of experience in research, translational science, and clinical development. He currently serves as Scientific Advisor to Remedy Plan Therapeutics and as scientific consultant to Mulberry Biotherapeutics. Previously, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of RAPT Therapeutics, where he led research and development activities through the company's acquisition by GSK in 2026, and as Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Aduro BioTech, having played an instrumental role in taking both companies public in 2019 and 2015, respectively. He brings deep expertise in immunology, oncology, and drug development spanning discovery through Phase 2, together with executive management and Board-level experience in R&D oversight, partnering, licensing, due diligence, and institutional investor and financing roadshows. Dr. Brockstedt holds a Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and Immunology from the University of Kiel, with graduate research conducted at Stanford University, is an inventor on nine issued U.S. patents, and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in immunology, oncology, and vaccine development, including in Nature Medicine, PNAS, and Clinical Cancer Research.
Karen Krumeich, Chair of the Board of Helix BioPharma, said, "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."
Following these changes, the Board is comprised of six directors, four of which are independent. The company also reconstituted its Audit Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors: Karen Krumeich as Chair, Zachary T. Stadnyk, and Jamieson Bondarenko.
This board renewal signals a strategic strengthening of Helix's governance as it navigates the complex landscape of oncology drug development. The addition of directors with deep experience in capital markets, commercialization, and clinical development could enhance the company's ability to secure financing, forge partnerships, and ultimately bring its therapies to market. For investors and patients alike, the move underscores Helix's commitment to advancing its pipeline and creating long-term value. For more information, visit https://www.helixbiopharma.com/. The company's periodic reports are available on its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.
