Helix BioPharma Corp. responds to Penta's January 13, 2007 press release
16 January 2007
Helix BioPharma Corp. ( TSX: HBP / Frankfurt: WKN 918864 )
The press release most recently issued by International Penta is yet another reiteration of Mr. Janssen's previous complaints, but he fails to state certain important information.
Mr. Janssen knows that as a biopharmaceutical company's product candidates graduate to the advanced and pivotal clinical development levels, as Helix is actively pursuing, capital requirements increase significantly.
Biopharmaceutical companies must go through many rounds of financing as they grow. It is imperative that Helix is always prepared to take on financing. Helix has obtained TSX pre-clearance for the proposed resolution to do so before April 12th, 2007. Obtaining shareholder approval in advance is a precondition to being so prepared. Helix's legal and financial advisors recommend this strategy. Leading international investment banks have also recommended this strategy to Helix. Management believes this advice is based upon sound business judgment. To proceed otherwise would be irresponsible. Mr. Janssen knows this.
Moreover, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), the world's leading provider of proxy voting and corporate governance solutions to the international marketplace, has observed that the private placement resolution is proposed in the ordinary course of business.
Mr. Janssen was made fully aware of Helix's expanding capital requirements for 2007, and was given the opportunity to raise the stated capital. Helix did not accept his financing proposals due to their high costs, onerous conditions, excessive complexity and, in some cases, questionable legality. Based on this, Mr. Janssen's finder's fee agreement with Helix was allowed to expire on December 1st, 2006.
Helix believes, therefore, that Mr. Janssen's primary motivation stems from the Company's termination of his business relationship with Helix, and not because he has the best interest of other shareholders in mind.
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VOTE YOUR YELLOW HELIX PROXY NOW
DO NOT VOTE A BLUE PROXY
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED A BLUE PROXY, YOU CAN REVOKE IT BY SENDING IN
A YELLOW HELIX PROXY NOW
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Also see Helix's response to the dissident proxy circular dated January 10, 2007, filed at www.sedar.com and at www.helixbiopharma.com.
Helix recommends that all shareholders vote only their YELLOW Helix proxy FOR the private placement and FOR the election of Jerome F. McElroy, Donald H. Segal, Kenneth A. Cawkell, Conor Gunne, Richard Rossman, Jack Kay and Gordon M. Lickrish.
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN YOUR YELLOW PROXY BY JANUARY 19, 2007 AT 10:00 AM TORONTO TIME (EST) FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT.
A copy of Helix BioPharma's current Annual Report and Management Information Circular for the January 23, 2007 meeting can be found on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and at Helix's website at www.helixbiopharma.com. Requests for a hard copy of the Annual Report or Management Information Circular can also be made to Georgeson.
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Georgeson
North American Toll Free Number: 1-866-288-9745
Outside North America Collect: +1-416-642-7018
(*)Toll Free - European: 00800 1020 1010
European Collect: +44 (0) 117 378 5993
(*) Australia; Austria; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany;
Hong Kong; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Netherlands; New Zealand;
Norway; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Thailand; United Kingdom
Please visit our website for regular updates at www.helixbiopharma.com
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This document contains certain forward-looking information and statements regarding the Company's beliefs, plans and objectives. Forward-looking information and statements are not historical facts but are predictions about the future and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "to be", "to do", "knows", "is actually", "pursing", "must", "believes", or the negative thereof or any other variations thereon or comparable terminology referring to future events or results, or that events or conditions "will", "may", "could", "would", or "should" occur or be achieved, or comparable terminology referring to future events or results. The Company's actual results could differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection in its forward-looking information and statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation: uncertainty as to the outcome of the January 23, 2007 shareholders meeting; uncertainty whether the Company will be able to complete any financing on the terms proposed or at all; liquidity risks, including the ability of the company to maintain a listing on a stock exchange, or the ability of the Company to secure listing on other stock exchanges; uncertainty whether any of the Company's proposed drug products will be successfully developed or at all; the need for future clinical trials, the occurrence and success of which cannot be assured; the need for regulatory approvals, which approvals may not be obtained on acceptable terms or at all or may be withdrawn; research and development risks; uncertainty whether the L-DOS47 preclinical program will be completed as planned or at all; uncertainty whether an IND will be compiled or submitted for L-DOS47 as currently planned or at all, or if submitted, whether the Company will be permitted to undertake human testing; uncertainty whether the manufacturing process for L-DOS47 can be scaled-up successfully or at all; manufacturing risks and the need to manufacture to regulatory standards; the need for performance by buyers of the Company's products; reliance by the Company on a few customers and a few suppliers; uncertainty regarding the Company's ability to generate projected sales volumes and product prices; uncertainty of the size and existence of a market opportunity for, and market acceptance of, the Company's products and those of its customers and licensees; the need to secure new contracts and new strategic relationships, which is not assured; intellectual property risks; marketing risks; uncertainty as to availability of raw materials on acceptable terms or at all; partnership/strategic alliance risks and in particular, the need for performance by the Company's licensees, Lumera Corporation and Helsinn-Birex; product liability risks; the effect of competition; the risk of unknown side effects; the Company's need for additional future capital, which may not be available in a timely manner or at all; exchange rate fluctuations; environmental risks; political risks; the risk of technical obsolescence; the possibility that the Company will pursue additional development projects or other business opportunities; the risk of unanticipated expenses; market volatility; the need to attract and retain key personnel; and other factors that are discussed or identified in the Company's latest Annual Information Form filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com any of which could cause actual results to vary materially from current results or the Company's anticipated future results. Forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statement if those assumptions, beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances should change. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any statement contained in this document.
For further information: and assistance in completing your YELLOW Helix proxy, please call Georgeson, Helix's proxy solicitor: North American toll free number 1-866-288-9745, European* toll free number 00800-1020-1010, Collect calls outside North America can be made at (416) 642-7018 or +44(0)117-378-5993
Source: newswire
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