EXHIBIT 32.1


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


         In connection with the Annual Report of AEterna Laboratories Inc.
(the "Company") on Form 40-F for the year ended December 31, 2003 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Gilles Gagnon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss. 1350, as adopted pursuant to ss.
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.




/s/ Gilles Gagnon
- ------------------------------------------
Gilles Gagnon
President and Chief Executive Officer


Dated: May 17, 2004




A signed original of this written statement required by SS. 906 has been
provided to AEterna Laboratories Inc. and will be retained by AEterna
Laboratories Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its
staff upon request.