RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 1996--  Helix BioPharma
Corp. (TSE, ME HBP.) Results of a Belgium clinical  study presented on
October 15, 1996 at the annual scientific meeting  of the American
Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome evidenced  that Ampligen(R) produced
significant physical and mental processing  improvements among patients
suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome  (CFS).  The two key measurements of
physical performance showing  significant improvement included exercise
performance on a bicycle  and increased oxygen uptake.   

CFS is characterized by months of debilitating fatigue frequently associated
with headache, sore throat, low grade fever and tender  lymph nodes.  The
illness interferes with every-day simple tasks such as walking, driving a
car, and remembering appointments, and it  causes some patients to become
bedridden.  The medical community  estimates that approximately 400,000
people in the United States  suffer from CFS and the company estimates that
40,000 people in  Canada suffer from CFS.   

Helix BioPharma Corp. recently received its first shipment of  Ampligen(R) at
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Rivex Pharma in Aurora,  Ontario.  Pursuant to
the company's strategic alliance agreement with Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc.,
the drug will now be available in Canada. Ampligen(R) will be administered in
Canada under the Emergency Drug  Release Program, at the request of Canadian
physicians.  Under the  Emergency Drug Release Program, in certain instances
when there is a  serious disease for which there are no other appropriate
treatment  alternatives, a licensed physician can prescribe a pharmaceutical
 product prior to approval by the Health Protection Branch, the  Canadian
medical regulatory agency.   

Dated at Richmond, B.C. this 17th Day of October, 1996.   

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD 

Terrance G. Owen, Ph.D., M.B.A., President The Vancouver Stock  Exchange has
not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the  adequacy of the
content of the information contained herein.  Helix  BioPharma trades on the
TSE and VSE under the symbol "HBP".  

CONTACT:  

Helix BioPharma Corp. 

Jason Van Bergen, 604/270-7468 

INTERNET:  http://www.helixbio.com 

E-MAIL:  invrelations@helixbiopharma.ca 

KEYWORD:  NEW YORK 

INDUSTRY KEYWORD:  PHARMACEUTICAL 

BW0388  OCT 17,1996