Lorus Therapeutics Announces a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement With the U.S. National Cancer Institute

TORONTO, ONTARIO, May 19 (MARKET WIRE) --
Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: LOR) ("Lorus"), a biopharmaceutical company
specializing in the research and development of pharmaceutical products
and technologies for the management of cancer, today announced extension
of a cooperative research program with the U.S. National Cancer Institute
(NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), which includes its
Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR) targeted RNA-targeted drugs.

Under a Materials Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
(MCRADA), the Laboratory of Cancer Biology & Genetics (LCBG) of the NCI
will use Lorus' LOR-2501 and LOR-2040 (formerly known as GTI-2501 and
GTI-2040, respectively), and LOR-1284 (a lead small interfering RNA
(siRNA) candidate, formerly known as siRNA-1284), in combination with
commercially-available drugs, to develop a drug cocktail(s) that is more
effective for the treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma tumors than for
normal regenerating kidney. Of specific interest in this regard is the
potential usage of this anti-tumor treatment approach in targeting the
tumor and not the normal regenerating tissue.

The title of the MCRADA is "Renal Cell Carcinoma as Wounds that do not
heal: Drug Combinational Therapy using Lorus Therapeutics' Antisense
Oligonucleotides to Ribonucleotide Reductase M1 Polypeptide (RRM1) &
RRM2, and siRNA to RRM2". The studies are being conducted at the NCI by
Dr. Joseph Riss and the NIH Principal Investigator Dr. Glenn Merlino.

All three drugs that are being evaluated in this cooperative research
program have emerged from Lorus' oncology drug discovery program and have
been extensively tested in many preclinical models. LOR-1284 is currently
in preclinical development as the Lorus' lead siRNA drug targeting RRM2
(also known as R2). LOR-2501 and LOR-2040, the Lorus' lead antisense
drugs targeting RRM1 and RRM2 respectively, are each in clinical
development stage with the primary focus at present on the LOR-2040 Phase
II program in Acute Myeloid Leukemia, among several cancer indications
studied.

"This MCRADA is an example of the ongoing collaborative research that
Lorus strives to undertake in parallel with each of its developmental
programs", said Dr. Aiping Young, Lorus' President and CEO. "Such
partnership accelerates the knowledge generated by research activities
into practical applications and provides a basis for future development
opportunities over and above our core development program".

About Lorus

Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and
development of novel therapeutics in cancer. 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 with other drugs, to successfully manage cancer. Lorus
Therapeutics Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
symbol LOR.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Such statements include,
but are not limited to, statements relating to: our research program
plans, our plans to conduct clinical trials, the successful and timely
completion of clinical studies and the regulatory approval process, our
ability to fund future research, our plans to obtain partners to assist
in the further development of our product candidates, the establishment
of corporate alliances, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and
intentions and other statements including words such as "continue",
"believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "will", "should", "may", and other
similar expressions. Such statements reflect our current views with
respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties and
are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that,
while considered reasonable by us are inherently subject to significant
business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and
contingencies. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance
or achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including, among others: our ability to
continue as a going concern, our ability to repay or refinance the
convertible debentures by October 2009; our ability to obtain the capital
required for research and operations, the inherent risks in early stage
drug development including demonstrating efficacy, development time/cost
and the regulatory approval process; the progress of our clinical trials;
our ability to find and enter into agreements with potential partners;
our ability to attract and retain key personnel; changing market
conditions; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in our ongoing
quarterly filings, annual information forms, annual reports and annual
filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
the assumptions set out in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in our
Annual Information Form underlying those forward-looking statements prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described
herein. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this
press release and we do not intend, and do not assume any obligation, to
update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. We
cannot assure you that such statements will prove to be accurate as
actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Investors are cautioned that
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and
accordingly investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on
forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

Lorus Therapeutics Inc.'s recent press releases are available through the
Company's website at www.lorusthera.com. For Lorus' regulatory filings on
SEDAR, please go to www.Sedar.com. For SEDAR filings prior to July 10,
2007 you will find these under the company profile for Global Summit Real
Estate Inc. (Old Lorus).

Contacts:
Lorus Therapeutics Inc.
Dr. Saeid Babaei
(416) 798-1200 ext. 490
ir@lorusthera.com
www.lorusthera.com

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