Helix BioPharma Corp. Announces CEO Change

AURORA, ON--(Marketwired - Mar 29, 2016) - Helix BioPharma Corp. (hereinafter defined as "Helix" or the "Company") (TSX: HBP) (FRANKFURT: HBP), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, announces that Dr. Zbigniew Markowski will be stepping down, for personal and family reasons, from his positions as Chief Executive Officer of Helix BioPharma Corp and Chairman of Helix Polska, effective March 29^th, 2016. Stepping into both roles, effective immediately, will be Dr. Sven Rohmann.

Dr. Rohmann, current Chairman of the Board of Helix, has served as a director of the Company since December 18, 2013 and has served as chair of several of the Company's governance committees.

Dr. Rohmann is an experienced biotech entrepreneur and pharma manager and a life science venture capitalist with more than 30 years hands-on experience in pre-clinical & clinical research as well as marketing, business & corporate development, especially in the field of oncology. Dr. Rohmann together with Dr. Orlowski, another member of Helix's Board, led the Adiuvo Investment SA team as CEO, which raised EUR 9.8M from private investors and successfully placed the company on the Warsaw stock exchange in 2015. In addition, Dr. Rohmann was instrumental in building the oncology franchise of Merck Serono where he served as the Business Area Head Oncology, as well as franchise`s Global Head, Strategic Marketing, and was involved in the in-licensing of Erbitux, an oncology blockbuster drug, from Imclone. In addition, Dr. Rohmann was the founding CEO of Ganymed Pharmaceuticals, a German oncology start-up company, now employing about 80 people with 6 development leads up into clinical phase 2b. As a Venture Capital Fund Manager, Dr. Rohmann worked for the US headquartered Burrill & Company, as well as for the Swiss-based Nextech Venture AG and Novartis Pharma, where he was involved in establishing a dedicated oncology fund. At Novartis Pharma, a portion of his time also involved being Head of Partnering, General Medicine and Mature Products. Dr Rohmann obtained his medical degree and PhD from the Universities of Mainz, Germany, and Rotterdam, Netherlands, respectively.

"On behalf of the Board, I'd like to thank Dr. Markowski for his contributions and best wishes", commented Dr. Rohmann.

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.