Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP, OTC PINK: HBPCF, FRANKFURT: HBP0), a clinical-stage oncology company developing therapies for difficult-to-treat cancers, announced significant changes to its Board of Directors, effective September 28, 2026. The company appointed Karen Krumeich, Jamieson Bondarenko, Charmaine Lykins, and Dirk Brockstedt to the Board, with Krumeich also named Chair of the Board and Audit Committee. Simultaneously, Jacek Antas, Malgorzata Laube, and Jerzy Leszczynski voluntarily resigned as part of a planned board renewal.
This governance shake-up matters because it brings a diverse set of skills—biotechnology leadership, corporate governance, finance, scientific and clinical development, commercialization, and capital markets—precisely as Helix seeks to advance its pipeline and create shareholder value. The new directors replace outgoing members who stepped down to facilitate the transition, signaling a strategic realignment rather than a crisis. For a small-cap oncology company like Helix, board composition can directly influence access to capital, partnership opportunities, and credibility with investors and regulators.
Karen Krumeich, an experienced life sciences financial executive, has served as CFO and EVP for public and private companies including Kazia Therapeutics, TheraVectys, and Soligenix, supporting oncology programs in development. Her expertise in venture and public equity financing, investor relations, and corporate governance will be critical as Helix navigates the complex funding landscape for clinical-stage biotech. Jamieson Bondarenko, a Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Market Technician, brings capital markets and investment banking experience from Eight Capital and Dundee Securities, and currently chairs BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. His network and strategic advice can help Helix attract investment and structure deals.
Charmaine Lykins, MBA, adds over 30 years of biopharmaceutical commercial leadership, having held senior roles at Karuna Therapeutics, MapLight Therapeutics, and Acadia Pharmaceuticals, and contributing to launches of therapies like COBENFY and NUPLAZID. Her commercialization insight is vital as Helix’s pipeline—led by L-DOS47 for non-small cell lung cancer, plus LEUMUNA and GEMCEDA—moves toward potential market approval. Dirk Brockstedt, Ph.D., a scientist with 25 years in research and clinical development, previously served as CSO of RAPT Therapeutics through its acquisition by GSK in 2026, and EVP at Aduro BioTech, taking both companies public. His deep immunology and oncology expertise, with over 50 publications and nine U.S. patents, will guide Helix’s R&D strategy.
CEO Thomas Mehrling welcomed the new members, stating they bring exceptional breadth of complementary expertise that significantly strengthens the Board at an important stage in Helix’s evolution, and thanked the departing directors for their service. The reconstituted Board now comprises six directors, four of whom are independent, and the Audit Committee consists entirely of independent directors: Krumeich as Chair, Zachary T. Stadnyk, and Bondarenko. This independence aligns with best practices in corporate governance, which can enhance investor confidence and reduce risks of conflicts of interest.
The implications for Helix are substantial. With a strengthened board, the company is better positioned to execute its strategic objectives, including advancing L-DOS47 and other pipeline candidates. The addition of capital markets expertise could improve access to financing, while commercial and scientific acumen may accelerate development and partnership discussions. For shareholders, these changes signal a commitment to long-term value creation. More details are available on the company’s website at https://www.helixbiopharma.com/ and in its public filings at www.sedarplus.ca.
