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                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
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 THERAPEUTICS INC. PUBLISHES PRECLINCAL RESULTS DESCRIBING NC 381,
                         A LUNG CANCER ANTI-TUMOR AGENT

     - Novel derivative of an anti-fungal drug with anti-tumor properties--

TSX:     LOR
OTC BB:  LORFF

TORONTO, CANADA, DECEMBER 1, 2003 - Scientists at Lorus Therapeutics Inc.
("Lorus") have published the results of investigations aimed at characterizing a
clotrimazole (CLT) analogue, NC 381. CLT is an anti-fungal drug that has
demonstrated anti-cancer activity but its potential is limited by the presence
of high liver toxicity. The goal of the study was to develop a variation or
analogue of CLT that maintained the anti-cancer activity without the toxic side
effects. The results appear in an article entitled, "NC 381, A Novel Anti-cancer
Agent, Arrests the Cell Cycle in G0-G1 and Inhibits Lung Tumor Cell Growth In
Vitro and In Vivo" in a November electronic version of the Journal of
Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. The article will also be published
in print in an upcoming issue of the journal.

The article explained that when a chemical component of CLT responsible for
toxicity was removed in designing the analogue NC 381, the new drug inhibited
the growth of cancer cells in vitro by a mechanism of action that was similar to
CLT. Therefore, this new drug appears to be a safer agent that maintains
anti-cancer activity.

Also, the clinical applicability of NC 381 was evaluated in a mouse model of
human lung cancer. In this model, NC 381 treatment significantly inhibited tumor
growth in vivo, demonstrating the potential of NC 381 for treatment of lung
cancer.

                                     (more)



Lorus recently licensed NC 381 and the library of CLT analogs to Cyclacel
Limited ("Cyclacel"), a UK-based biopharmaceutical company. Lorus received an
upfront payment for the library including NC 381, and assuming all clinical
development milestones are achieved by Cyclacel, Lorus will also receive
milestone payments that total approximately US $11.6 million for NC 381 and for
each of any other compounds developed from the compound library. In addition to
these payments, Lorus will receive royalties based on product sales.

"Cyclacel has expertise in the area of drug development represented by
anti-cancer agents like NC 381 and the other CLT analogs, and is an excellent
partner for Lorus," said Dr. Jim Wright, CEO of Lorus. "This agreement is also
consistent with Lorus' focus on progressing its strong preclinical and clinical
programs that are now underway and showing very promising results."

About Lorus

Lorus is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the research and development of
cancer therapies. Lorus' goal is to capitalize on its research, pre-clinical,
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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