Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP, OTC PINK: HBPCF, FRANKFURT: HBP0), a clinical-stage oncology company focused on difficult-to-treat cancers, announced on September 28, 2026, the appointment of four new directors to its Board of Directors: Karen Krumeich, Jamieson Bondarenko, CFA, CMT, Charmaine Lykins, MBA, and Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D. Ms. Krumeich has also been appointed Chair of the Board and Audit Committee. Concurrently, Jacek Antas, Malgorzata Laube, and Jerzy Leszczynski voluntarily resigned from the Board. The changes reduce the Board to six directors, four of whom are independent, and reconstitute the Audit Committee with independent directors Karen Krumeich as Chair, Zachary T. Stadnyk, and Jamieson Bondarenko. The move is part of an ongoing board renewal process.
This board overhaul matters because it brings together a rare combination of expertise—biotechnology leadership, scientific and clinical development, capital markets, corporate governance, and commercialization—precisely as Helix seeks to advance its pipeline. The company’s lead candidate, L-DOS47, is a clinical-stage antibody-enzyme conjugate in development for non-small cell lung cancer. Additional pre-IND candidates include LEUMUNA™ for post-transplant leukemia relapse and GEMCEDA™ for advanced solid tumors. Thomas Mehrling, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, said the new members’ collective experience “significantly strengthens our Board at an important stage in Helix’s evolution” and will be invaluable as the company advances its oncology pipeline, executes strategic objectives, and positions itself for sustainable, long-term value creation.
The appointees bring deep and complementary backgrounds. Karen Krumeich is an experienced life sciences financial executive who has served as CFO and EVP for public and private companies, including Kazia Therapeutics, TheraVectys, and Soligenix, with direct experience in oncology programs. Jamieson Bondarenko is an active investor and capital markets executive who chairs BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and advises MustGrow Biologics Corp.; he previously held senior roles at Eight Capital and Dundee Securities. Charmaine Lykins is a seasoned biopharmaceutical commercial leader with over 30 years of experience, currently CEO of Transneural Therapeutics and a former executive at Karuna Therapeutics, MapLight Therapeutics, and Acadia Pharmaceuticals; she has contributed to the commercialization of multiple first- and best-in-class therapies. Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D., is a biotechnology executive and scientist with more than 25 years of experience; he previously served as Chief Scientific Officer of RAPT Therapeutics and EVP of R&D at Aduro BioTech, playing instrumental roles in taking both companies public. He is an inventor on nine U.S. patents and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications.
Krumeich said she is honored to join Helix as Chair and looks forward to working with Dr. Mehrling and the management team as the company advances its pipeline and executes on strategic priorities. The board changes could enhance Helix’s ability to attract financing, forge partnerships, and navigate regulatory pathways, given the new directors’ capital markets and drug development experience. For a clinical-stage company with a pipeline targeting difficult-to-treat cancers, such governance strengthening may improve execution and investor confidence. Further details are available in the company’s public filings at www.sedarplus.ca, and additional information about Helix can be found at https://www.helixbiopharma.com/. The original release is available on www.newmediawire.com.
