Helix Biopharma Transfers Technology to Poland

AURORA, ON--(Marketwired - Jan 6, 2016) - Helix BioPharma Corp. (hereinafter defined as "Helix" and listed on TSX & FSE: "HBP") (TSX: HBP) (FRANKFURT: HBP), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today announced that it has granted a world-wide exclusive license for v-DOS47, an antibody DOS47 conjugate that targets the vascular endothelial growth factor 2 receptor (VEGFR2), to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Helix Polska.

"Poland has proven to be fruitful ground for the advancement of our novel products over the last few years, as well as for our successful fundraising efforts," commented Gary Littlejohn, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Helix. "This license agreement is an extension of the strong ties Helix has developed in Poland and we believe that this license will provide the opportunity for development activities that will benefit not only v-DOS47, but the DOS47 platform as a whole," he concluded. 

Helix expects that day-to-day development activities in respect of v-DOS47 will be coordinated by Helix Polska, and Helix expects that Helix Polska will pursue non-dilutive EU grant financing arrangements to advance those development activities.

About Helix

Helix is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the field of cancer therapy. Helix 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 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 financial performance that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action and includes financial projections and estimates, statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to Helix's future business, operations, research and development, including the Helix Polska's development activities relating to v-DOS47 and other information in future periods. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, those statements relating to the nature, means of funding, coordination of and benefits to be derived from the development activities expected to be undertaken by Helix Polska and other information in future periods. Forward-looking information may be identified by words including, without limitation, "believe", "will", "expects" and other similar expressions, are intended to provide information about management's current plans and expectations regarding the conduct of the development activities of Helix Polska and the other 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: (i) the inherent uncertainty involved in scientific research and drug development; (ii) future expenditures, the insufficiency of the Company's current cash resources and the need to secure additional financing on terms satisfactory to Helix or at all, including the risk that Helix Polska may be unable to secure non-dilutive financing sufficient to fund all or any part of its development activities; (iii) that Helix Polska's development activities do not proceed on the timelines anticipated or at all, including that the results of such development activities will not justify future clinical development or provide the anticipated benefits to the DOS47 platform as a whole; and (iv) those risks and uncertainties affecting Helix as 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.