Lorus Therapeutics Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Year 2010

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - August 30, 2010) - Lorus Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: LOR)(OTCBB: LRUSF) ("Lorus" or the "Company") a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research and development of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of cancer, today reported financial results for twelve months ended May 31, 2010. Unless specified otherwise, all amounts are in Canadian dollars.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Corporate Highlights

--  Subsequent to year end, due to unfavourable market conditions, the
    Company withdrew a previously announced equity issue, and is proposing a
    shareholder rights issue with a financing commitment for an investment
    of $4 million by Herbert Abramson, one of Lorus' directors, by way of
    standby purchase arrangements for the proposed rights offering, such
    that the minimum gross proceeds of the proposed rights offering are $4
    million. Mr. Abramson is also providing the Company with interim
    financing by way of three $500,000 monthly loans, the first of which was
    advanced on August 11, 2010, which are unsecured, have a six month term
    (or the earlier of the closing of the rights issue) and bear interest at
    the annual rate of 10%.  
--  In November 2009 successfully raised $2.46 million in an equity
    financing by way of a private placement of units, each unit consisting
    of one common share of Lorus and one-half common share purchase warrant.
    Each full warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share of
    Lorus at $2.40 until May 27, 2011. 
--  In June 2009, the Company reached a settlement with The Erin Mills
    Investment Corporation (TEMIC) with respect to the purchase and
    settlement of the $15 million convertible debentures. 
--  Completed a 1 for 30 share consolidation effective May 25, 2010. 

--  LOR-2040 Program: 
    --  Announced positive results in a Phase II clinical study in
        refractory and relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia with LOR-2040 in
        combination with cytarabine. The Steering Committee review
        determined that the Phase II efficacy and safety results fulfilled
        the clinical trial protocol criteria for continued patient enrolment
        and are consistent with the promising Phase Ib clinical findings,
        previously reported by Lorus. It was further agreed that based on
        the strength of the Phase Ib and II clinical data in a total of 48
        patients treated in this indication, expansion to a definitive
        comparative trial is the most appropriate next step to support
        registration. On this basis Lorus is proceeding with protocol
        development for the expanded development program. 

--  LOR-253 Program: 
    --  Received approval of the Investigation New Drug (IND) application
        for Lorus' anticancer drug candidate LOR-253 by the U.S. Food & Drug
        Administration (FDA). Based on the approval of the IND by the FDA,
        Lorus plans to proceed with a first-in-man Phase I dose escalation
        trial with LOR-253 in advanced or metastatic solid tumors. 
    --  Completed successful production of first clinical batch of
        anticancer drug LOR-253. 

--  Other Programs: 
    --  Announced a publication demonstrating the potent antitumor activity
        of a novel cytokine interleukin 17E (IL-17E) in a number of solid
        tumors, including melanoma, breast, colon, pancreatic, and nonsmall
        cell lung cancers. In combination studies, IL-17E was compatible
        with a wide variety of approved anticancer drugs. 

Our loss from operations for the year ended May 31, 2010 decreased to $5.7 million ($0.61 per share) compared to $9.3 million ($1.13 per share) during the same period in fiscal 2009. The current year net earnings and other comprehensive earnings of $5.3 million (earnings of $0.57 per share) are a result of the $11.0 million gain on sale recognized on the extinguishment of our convertible debentures in June 2009 (described below) as well as a gain on sale of shares related to the corporate reorganization completed in July 2007 of $50 thousand. For the year ended May 31, 2009 the Company recorded a gain on sale of shares of $450 thousand resulting in a net loss and other comprehensive loss for the period of $8.9 million ($1.08 per share). During the year ended May 31, 2008, the Company realized a gain on the sale of shares related to the Arrangement in the amount of $6.3 million resulting in net loss and other comprehensive loss for the period of $6.3 million ($0.87 per share).

The decrease in net loss from operations for the year ended May 31, 2010 compared with the prior year is due primarily to lower research and development costs of $1.2 million resulting from less spending on GLP-toxicity studies as well as an overall reduction in company spending to conserve cash balances, as well as reduced interest and accretion charges of $653 thousand and $1.6 million respectively, resulting from the settlement of the convertible debentures described below and lower stock based compensation costs of $270 thousand as a result of a lower share price in the current year. These reductions were offset by a decrease in interest income from $270 thousand for the year ended May 31, 2009 to $21 thousand for the year ended May 31, 2010 as a result of lower cash and investment balances.

We utilized cash of $3.7 million in our operating activities in the year ended May 31, 2010 compared with $7.2 million in the prior year. The decrease is primarily a result of a reduced net loss and increased accounts payable and accrued liabilities balances in the current year.

Research and development expenses totaled $2.5 million in the year ended May 31, 2010 compared to $3.8 million during the prior year and $6.3 million in 2008. The decrease in expenditures of $1.2 million during the current year compared to the same period in the prior year is primarily a result of the cost of toxicity studies for LOR-253 conducted and completed in fiscal 2009. No similar costs were incurred in the current year. In addition, we reduced overall, non-critical research and development costs in response to the current cash position.

The decrease in spending during the year ended May 31, 2009 compared with the prior year is due to GLP-toxicity studies for both our LOR-2040 bladder cancer and LOR-253 small molecule programs during the 2008 fiscal year as well as the cost of manufacturing LOR-2040 further increasing the research and development spending costs in 2008. In 2009, we manufactured LOR-253 drug, our lead small molecule, the manufacturing cost of which is significantly less than LOR-2040.

General and administrative expenses totaled $3.0 million for the year ended May 31, 2010 compared to $3.0 million in the prior year and $3.7 million in 2008. While the general and administrative expenses in the current year were consistent with the prior year, there were significant reductions to personnel, travel, board of directors and general office costs as we work to conserve cash and reduce our burn rate offset by financing costs of $569 thousand associated with a financing terminated subsequent to year end. The decrease in general and administrative costs for 2009 compared to 2008 is the result of lower personnel, travel, board of directors and general office costs.

In June 2009 the Company repurchased the outstanding $15 million debentures, which were originally due on October 6, 2009. Under the agreement, Lorus repurchased the debentures from TEMIC for consideration that included a cash payment of $3.3 million, the assignment of the rights under the license agreement with ZOR Pharmaceuticals Inc, LLC ("ZOR"), certain intellectual property associated with Virulizin and all of Lorus' shares in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Pharma Immune, which held an equity interest in ZOR. As a result of the transaction, the Company recognized a gain on the repurchase of the debentures of $11.0 million reflecting the difference between the fair value of the debentures at the repurchase date, net of transaction costs of approximately $221 thousand, and the cash payment amount of $3.3 million. The gain on repurchase of the debentures did not result in income taxes payable as the Company has sufficient capital loss and non-capital loss carryforwards to shelter these gains.

At May 31, 2010, Lorus had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaling $914 thousand compared to $5.9 million at May 31, 2009. Working capital (representing primarily cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments and other current assets less current liabilities which included the secured convertible debentures which were due October 6, 2009 and the promissory note payable in fiscal 2011) at May 31, 2010 was a deficiency of $1.3 million as compared to a deficiency of $9.2 million at May 31, 2009. Subsequent to the year-end Lorus secured a commitment to invest $4.0 million as described above.

Management has forecasted that the Company's current level of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, including the $4.0 million investment described above, will not be sufficient to execute its current planned expenditures for the next twelve months without further investment. The Company is currently in discussion with several parties with a view to obtaining additional funding. Management believes that it will complete an arrangement in sufficient time to continue to execute its planned expenditures. However, there can be no assurance that the capital will be available as necessary to meet these continuing expenditures, or if the capital is available, that it will be on terms acceptable to the Company.

"Throughout 2010 we have continued to make significant progress on the development of our drug candidates despite our limited cash resources," said Aiping Young, Lorus' President and CEO. "We look forward to 2011 and the initiation of a LOR-253 Phase I clinical trial and the increase in value that will bring to our shareholders as well as working towards securing partnership agreements that will allow for the further development of LOR-2040 in a Phase III registration trial."

Lorus Therapeutics Inc.                                                     
Consolidated Statements of Operations                                       
(amounts in 000's except for per common share data)                         

                                           Years Ended May 31               
                             -----------------------------------------------
(Canadian dollars)                     2010            2009            2008 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUE                       $         131   $         184   $          43 
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EXPENSES                                                                    
Research and development              2,517           3,757           6,260 
General and administrative            2,964           2,958           3,715 
Stock-based compensation                176             446             719 
Depreciation and amortization                                               
 of fixed assets                         86             189             317 
Cost of sales                            --              --               2 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      5,743           7,350          11,013 
Interest expense                         54             707           1,029 
Accretion in carrying value                                                 
 of convertible debentures               80           1,707           1,176 
Interest income                         (21)           (270)           (542)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss from operation for the                                                 
 period                              (5,725)         (9,310)        (12,633)
Gain on repurchase of                                                       
 convertible debentures and                                                 
 transfer of assets                  11,006              --              -- 
Gain on sale of shares                   50             450           6,299 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings/(loss) and other                                               
 comprehensive income for the                                               
 period                               5,331          (8,860)         (6,334)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic and diluted earnings                                                  
 (loss) per common share      $        0.57   $      ( 1.08)  $      ( 0.87)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of                                                  
 common shares outstanding                                                  
 used in the calculation of:                                                
 Basic earnings (loss) per                                                  
  share                               9,364           8,236           7,169 
 Diluted earnings (loss) per                                                
  share                               9,379           8,236           7,169 
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On July 10, 2007 (the "Arrangement Date"), the Company completed a plan of arrangement and corporate reorganization with 4325231 Canada Inc., formerly Lorus Therapeutics Inc., ("Old Lorus"), 6707157 Canada Inc. and Pinnacle International Lands Inc (the "Arrangement"). As a result of the plan of arrangement and reorganization, among other things, each common share of Old Lorus was exchanged for one common share of the Company and the assets (excluding certain future tax assets and related valuation allowance) and liabilities of Old Lorus were transferred to the Company and/or its subsidiaries. The Company continued the business of Old Lorus after the Arrangement Date with the same officers and employees and continued to be governed by the same Board of Directors as Old Lorus prior to the Arrangement Date. Therefore, the Company's operations have been accounted for on a continuity of interest basis and accordingly, the consolidated financial statement information above reflects that of the Company as if it had always carried on the business formerly carried on by Old Lorus.

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. Through its own discovery efforts and an acquisition and in-licensing program, Lorus is building a portfolio of promising anticancer drugs. Lorus Therapeutics Inc. is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol LOR and the Over the Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol LRUSF.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: financings, the establishment of corporate alliances, the Company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements including words such as "continue", "expect", "intend", "will", "should", "would", "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 described in this press release. Such expressed or implied forward-looking statements could include, among others: our ability to continue to operate as a going concern; our ability to obtain the capital required for research and operations; our ability to complete the proposed rights offering; 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 filings with Canadian securities regulators and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission 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 its 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).