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<S>                                      <C>                            <C>
CONTACTS:
LORUS THERAPEUTICS INC.                  CANADIAN MEDIA CONTACT:        US MEDIA CONTACT:

Corporate Communications                 Hugh Mansfield                 Nancy Tamosaitis
Bruce Rowlands                           Mansfield Communications I     Mansfield Communications Inc
Tel:  (416) 798-1200, ext.380            Tel:  (416) 599-0024           Tel:  (212) 370-5045
Email:ir@lorusthera.com                  Email:  hugh@mcipr.com         E-mail:  nancyt@mcipr.com

</Table>

                      LORUS ANNOUNCES SEVERAL STAFF CHANGES


TORONTO, JANUARY 15, 2003 - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. today announced the
retention of Mr. Bruce Rowlands as senior advisor, with special responsibilities
in investor relations.

Mr. Rowlands brings a wealth of industry experience in the areas of corporate
finance, institutional equity sales and investor communications to the Lorus
team. Most recently, he served as vice president and director at Dominick &
Dominick Securities Canada, an affiliate of Dominick & Dominick LLC in New York
City.

During the past six years, Mr. Rowlands has participated in financings involving
more than C$250 million for emerging North American companies including
biotechnology companies. Since 1997, he has been involved in all of Lorus'
financing transactions totaling over C$60 million.

"Mr. Rowlands' in-depth knowledge of both the biotechnology sector and the
investment community in North America is important to Lorus as the company
advances its preclinical and clinical drug development programs and executes its
business plans," said Dr. Jim A. Wright, CEO, Lorus.


                                     (more)



In other news, the company announced the departure of Mr. James Parsons as its
chief financial officer effective January 10, 2003. Lorus thanks Mr. Parsons for
his contributions to the company and wishes him well in his endeavors.

Ms. Ping Wei has been promoted from assistant controller to comptroller and has
assumed responsibility for the accounting duties of the company. Ms. Wei holds
chartered accountant, certified public accountant (Illinois) and certified
general accountant designations and a Bachelor of Accounting degree. Prior to
joining Lorus in 2001 she was employed as a senior staff accountant at Deloitte
and Touche in Toronto.

Dr. Wright added, "Ms. Wei has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in her work,
and I am very pleased to have both her and Mr. Rowlands on board and look
forward to their contributions."

About Lorus
Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the
research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and
technologies for the management of cancer. With products in all stages of
evaluation, from pre-clinical through Phase III trials, and a product approved
in Mexico for malignant melanoma, Lorus is a leader in the development of
therapeutics that seek to manage cancer with efficacious non-toxic compounds
that improve patients' quality of life. Founded in 1986, Lorus Therapeutics Inc.
is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LOR,
and on the OTC BB exchange under the symbol LORFF. Lorus Therapeutics Inc.'s
press releases are available through the Company's Internet site:
http://www.lorusthera.com.

Except for historical information, this press release contains forward-looking
statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation regarding future
events. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which
may cause actual results to differ materially from those statements. Those risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, changing market conditions,
the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the establishment of
corporate alliances, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product
development, uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process, and other
risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's ongoing quarterly filings,
annual information form, annual reports and 20-F filings. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these
risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events in this press
release might not occur.


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