EXHIBIT 5 [LOGO] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 900 Rene-Levesque Blvd East Suite 500 Quebec Quebec Canada G1R 2B5 Telephone + 1 (418) 522 7001 Facsimile + 1 (418) 522 5663 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report on Form 40-F of AEterna Laboratories Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2002 of our report dated January 31, 2003 relating to the consolidated financial statements for the three-years ended December 31, 2002. [SIGNATURE] CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Quebec, Quebec, Canada May 12, 2003 PricewaterhouseCoopers refers to the Canadian firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and the other member firms of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.