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Exhibit 99.3
CONTACTS:
LORUS THERAPEUTICS INC. CANADIAN MEDIA CONTACT: US MEDIA CONTACT
Corporate Communications Eliza Walsh Jennifer Taylor
Grace Tse Mansfield Communications Inc. Mansfield Communications Inc.
Tel: (416) 798-1200 ext. 380 Tel: (416) 599-0024 Tel: (212) 370-5045
Email: ir@lorusthera.com Email: eliza@mcipr.com Email: jennifer@mcipr.com
LORUS ANNOUNCES INITIATION OF PHASE II CLINICAL PROGRAM FOR GTI-2501
WITH DOCETAXEL IN HORMONE REFRACTORY PROSTATE CANCER
TSX: LOR
OTC BB: LORFF
TORONTO, CANADA, DECEMBER 23, 2003 - Lorus Therapeutics announced today that the
clinical study for GTI-2501for the treatment of hormone refractory prostate
cancer has been initiated at the Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre.
GTI-2501 will be administered in combination with docetaxel. The principal
investigator for this study is Dr. Scott Berry, and the co-investigator is Dr.
Laurence Klotz. Both clinicians are considered to be leaders in prostate cancer
research.
This collaboration between a leading Ontario research centre and an
Ontario-based innovative biopharmaceutical company is consistent with provincial
and federal policy to encourage novel clinical development in Canada. This marks
the first clinical trial of GTI-2501 in Canada, following the successful
conclusion of a Phase I clinical trial this year in the US.
GTI-2501 is an antisense drug that specifically targets the R1 component of
ribonucleotide reductase, which is required for DNA synthesis and cell division.
GTI-2501 has also shown marked antitumor activity in a wide variety of
preclinical cancer models, including prostate cancer.
This clinical trial will investigate the safety and efficacy of GTI-2501 in
combination with docetaxel, an active chemotherapy in hormone refractory
prostate cancer.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute of Canada
statistics, prostate cancer is second only to lung cancer in the number of
deaths among men in Canada, about 4,300 deaths per year, and is the most
prevalent cancer in men. Once advanced prostate cancer stops responding to
hormonal therapies, treatment options are limited so the development of new
treatments is essential.
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"We are very pleased to be expanding our clinical program for GTI-2501 to a
major Canadian clinical research institution," said Dr Jim Wright, CEO of Lorus
Therapeutics. "Maintaining quality of life is a key concern when treating
prostate cancer. Based on preclinical and early human studies with GTI-2501, we
believe that it will be well tolerated as a combination chemotherapy with
potential for clinical efficacy in this challenging disease."
About Lorus
Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of
cancer therapies. Lorus' goal is to capitalize on its research, preclinical,
clinical and regulatory expertise by developing new drug candidates that can be
used, either alone, or in combination, to successfully manage cancer. Through
its own discovery efforts and an active acquisition and in-licensing program,
Lorus is building a portfolio of promising anti-cancer drugs. Late-stage
clinical developments and marketing will be done in cooperation with strategic
pharmaceutical partners. 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.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this press release contains forward-looking
statements, which reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and
are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to,
changing market conditions, the Company's ability to obtain patent protection
and protect its intellectual property rights, commercialization limitations
imposed by intellectual property rights owned or controlled by third parties,
intellectual property liability rights and liability claims asserted against the
Company, 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, product development delays, the Company's ability to attract
and retain business partners and key personnel, future levels of government
funding, the Company's ability to obtain the capital required for research,
operations and marketing 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.
Lorus Therapeutics Inc.'s press releases are available through the Company's
Internet site: http://www.lorusthera.com.
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