On September 3, 2019 Helix BioPharma Corp. (TSX: HBP), ("Helix" or the "Company"), an immuno-oncology company developing innovative drug candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer, is reported that they, together with Moffitt Cancer Center ("Moffitt"), will be presenting a poster entitled "Pharmacodynamics of targeted urease and checkpoint blockade using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer ("CEST") and 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy ("31P-MRS") (Press release, Helix BioPharma, SEP 3, 2019, View Source [SID1234539248])." The question asked, "Is there a role for hyperpolarized 13C and 15N?"

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The poster presentation will take place at the World Molecular Imaging Congress ("WMIC"), which is taking place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal in Montréal, Quebec, Canada (View Source) on September 4th through the 7th, 2019.

The presentation describes the use of functional imaging techniques to measure the effect of L-DOS47 on changing tumor pH in a pancreatic mouse model. The pH effect can be measured by CEST MRI using a CT contrast agent iopamidol and by 31P-MRS with 3-aminopropyl phosphate ("3-APP") as reporting agent. In both cases, L-DOS47 injection is shown to induce a localized pH increase at the target tumor. L-DOS47 pH effect may also have a direct impact on therapy as combined treatment of L-DOS7 with an anti-PD-1 antibody is more efficacious than either agent alone in a preliminary round of animal study.

In a separate experiment, high resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopy of hyperpolarized 13C and 15N urea was able to show how urease (L-DOS47 enzymatic active component) breaks down urea directly and induces the pH effect. Both CEST and hyperpolarization are functional imaging techniques being studied in clinics to monitor therapeutic purposes. Helix is exploring the potential application of these techniques to its L-DOS47 clinical development program.

"I would like to thank and congratulate Dr. Robert (Bob) Gillies and the Moffitt team," said Dr. Heman Chao, Helix’s Chief Executive Officer. "This work complements data that was presented at the recent American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2019, in Atlanta, where the Company presented a poster presentation on "Improving survival in pancreatic cancer using Doxorubicin in combination with L-DOS47". We look forward to continuing collaboration with Bob and the team."

On August 7, 2019 the Company announced that it had received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to initiate a Phase Ib/II study of L-DOS47 and doxorubicin in advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer.
About Helix BioPharma Corp.

Helix BioPharma Corp. is an immuno-oncology company specializing in the field of cancer therapy. The company 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 and Chimeric Antigen Receptor ("CAR") based cell therapies. Helix is currently listed on the TSX under the symbol "HBP".

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.

Investor Relations

Helix BioPharma Corp.
9120 Leslie Street, Suite 205
Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 3J9
Tel: 905-841-2300
Email: [email protected]