Helix BioPharma Corp. Initiates Enrollment in the Second Dosing Cohort of U.S. Combination Treatment Study of Its Lung Cancer Drug Candidate L-DOS47


AURORA, ON--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2016) - Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP) (FRANKFURT: HBP), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, today announced the opening of patient screening in the second dosing cohort of its ongoing U.S. study of L-DOS47 in combination treatment with pemetrexed/carboplatin ("LDOS001").

The Safety Review Committee ("SRC") reviewed safety data from the first dosing cohort and recommended that Helix begin enrollment of patients into the second dosing cohort of study LDOS001. Patients enrolled in the second dosing cohort will receive the next L-DOS47 dose level which is 0.78 micrograms of L-DOS47 per kilogram of patient body weight.

About L-DOS47

L-DOS47 is Helix's first immunoconjugate based drug candidate in development based on the Company's novel DOS47 platform technology, which is designed to use an innovative approach to modify the microenvironmental conditions of cancer cells in a manner that leads to their destruction.

About L-DOS47 clinical development

L-DOS47 is currently being clinically evaluated in two clinical studies, in the United States and Poland and, as a treatment for certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC").

LDOS001 is a Phase I, open-label, dose escalation study being conducted in the United States at three centers: The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary objective of the study is to determine the safety and tolerability of L-DOS47 in combination treatment with pemetrexed/carboplatin. The study will also evaluate the potential clinical benefit of L-DOS47 with this combination.

LDOS002 is an open-label Phase I/II clinical study being conducted in Poland to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of ascending doses of L-DOS47, initially as a monotherapy, in patients with inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic, non-squamous, stage IIIb/IV NSCLC. Patients are being enrolled in the fifteenth dosing cohort at a dose of 10.19 micrograms of L-DOS47 per kilogram of patient body weight.

Forward-Looking Statements 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 other matters that is based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action and includes statements regarding plans, goals, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to Helix's future business, operations, research and development, including Helix's activities relating to L-DOS47 and other information in future periods. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements relating to the patients participating in the LDOS001 and LDOS002 clinical studies and the potential of LDOS001 to assist in evaluating the potential clinical benefit of L-DOS47 with pemetrexed/carboplatin, and other statements which may be identified by words including, without limitation, "will" and other similar expressions, which are intended to provide information about management's current plans and expectations regarding the conduct of the clinical studies of L-DOS47 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 LDOS001 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 LDOS001 and/or LDOS002 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.

Contact Information:

Investor Relations:

Helix BioPharma Corp.
3-305 Industrial Parkway South
Aurora, Ontario, L4G 6X7
Tel: 905 841-2300
Fax: (905) 841-2244
Email: ir@helixbiopharma.com
Web: www.helixbiopharma.com