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 four new directors to its board: Karen Krumeich, Jamieson Bondarenko, Charmaine Lykins, and Dirk Brockstedt. Krumeich has also been named Chair of the Board and Audit Committee. In a concurrent move, Jacek Antas, Malgorzata Laube, and Jerzy Leszczynski voluntarily resigned from the board.
The changes are part of an ongoing board renewal effort that the company says strengthens governance with expertise spanning biotechnology leadership, corporate governance and finance, scientific and clinical development, commercialization, and capital markets. Following the changes, the board comprises six directors, four of whom are independent. The Audit Committee was reconstituted with independent directors Karen Krumeich as Chair, Zachary T. Stadnyk, and Jamieson Bondarenko.
“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... Their collective experience significantly strengthens our Board at an important stage in Helix’s evolution.” He added that their strategic insight and industry relationships will be invaluable as the company advances its oncology pipeline and seeks long-term shareholder value.
Karen Krumeich is an experienced life sciences financial executive who has served as CFO for public and private companies, including Kazia Therapeutics, TheraVectys, and Soligenix. She currently serves as fractional CFO with the Lisa Stone Group and as Managing Director of Golden Seeds. Jamieson Bondarenko is an active investor and capital markets executive, currently Chairman of BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and a capital markets advisor to MustGrow Biologics Corp. Charmaine Lykins is a biopharmaceutical executive with over 30 years of commercial experience, currently CEO of Transneural Therapeutics. 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 until its acquisition by GSK in 2026.
Krumeich commented, “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.”
This board overhaul is significant for Helix as it seeks to advance its pipeline, which includes L-DOS47 for non-small cell lung cancer, LEUMUNA for post-transplant leukemia relapse, and GEMCEDA for advanced solid tumors. The addition of directors with capital markets, commercialization, and clinical development experience could help the company navigate regulatory and financing challenges. For investors, the strengthened governance may signal improved strategic oversight and accountability. The company’s shares trade on the TSX, OTC Pink, and Frankfurt exchanges, and further details are available on its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on its website at https://www.helixbiopharma.com/.
