Statement re Staffing Changes

    YM BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCES STAFFING CHANGES

    MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 5 /CNW/ - YM BioSciences Inc. (AMEX: YMI, TSX: YM,
AIM: YMBA), an oncology company that identifies, develops and commercializes
differentiated products for patients worldwide, today announced staffing
changes designed to focus the Company on the international opportunities for
both of its lead products, nimotuzumab and AeroLEF.
    Dr. Leonardo Viana Nicacio, a medical oncologist, has joined the Company
as Director of Clinical Affairs. Prior to joining YM, Dr. Nicacio was the
Medical Manager at Eurofarma SA, in Brazil, one of 14 companies developing
nimotuzumab worldwide. He joins YM with an extensive knowledge of nimotuzumab,
its attributes and its clinical development pathway. Dr. Igor Sherman,
formerly Director of Clinical Affairs, has been appointed Director of
Scientific Affairs.
    The YM team has engaged the services of Ms. Liz Jenkins to support the
progression of AeroLEF through the European and other international regulatory
processes. She joins Dr. Ali Raza, whose engagement by YM as President of
AeroLEF was recently announced. Ms. Jenkins' career path includes senior
regulatory postings with Celltech Ltd., Amgen and, more recently, Sosei R & D
Limited, where Ms. Jenkins was part of the project team which recently
succeeded in the clearance and initiation of a Phase III clinical program with
a fentanyl based product in Europe. Dr. Raza and Ms. Jenkins will provide
support to the YM team in the UK where Dr. David Kennard is YM's Director of
European Operations.
    "We are pleased to be working with these highly qualified and experienced
individuals who share our determination to realize the substantial global
market opportunities for our two lead products," said David Allan, Chairman
and CEO of YM BioSciences. "These new senior members of YM, together with the
additional support, strengthen our development teams for both nimotuzumab and
AeroLEF while also enhancing our global presence."
    YM also announced today that Dr. Lisa DeLuca, VP Global Regulatory
Affairs, has resigned from the Company and that Dr. Diana Pliura, Exec. VP
AeroLEF and certain other staff members have also departed. "These changes in
staffing are the result of an aggressive concentration on the most rapid
development of our two products in the international markets," said David
Allan, Chairman and CEO. "I would like to thank Drs. DeLuca and Pliura, and
the staff who have made significant and valuable contributions to the product
development and regulatory processes that have brought us this far."

    About YM BioSciences

    YM BioSciences Inc. is an oncology company that identifies, develops and
commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide. The Company is
developing nimotuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, and AeroLEF, a
proprietary, inhaled-delivery composition of free and liposome-encapsulated
fentanyl. Nimotuzumab is in development targeting multiple tumour types in
combination with radiation, chemoradiation and chemotherapy. The drug, which
is approved for marketing in eight countries, is significantly differentiated
from all other currently marketed EGFR-targeting agents because of a
remarkably benign side-effect profile. In approximately 3,000 patients
treated, to date, worldwide no Grade III/IV rash has been noted and reports of
any of the other side-effects that are typical of EGFR-targeting molecules
have been rare. AeroLEF is in development for the treatment of moderate to
severe pain, including cancer pain. The product completed a randomized trial
in 2007 and is being prepared for late-stage development internationally.

    This press release may contain forward-looking statements, which reflect
the Company's current expectation regarding future events. These
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause
actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any
future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to,
changing market conditions, 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 and other risks detailed from time to time in the
Company's ongoing quarterly and annual reporting. Certain of the assumptions
made in preparing forward-looking statements include but are not limited to
the following: that nimotuzumab will continue to demonstrate a competitive
safety profile in ongoing and future clinical trials; that AeroLEF- will
continue to generate positive efficacy and safety data in future clinical
trials; and that YM and its various partners will complete their respective
clinical trials within the timelines communicated in this release. We
undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

For further information: James Smith, the Equicom Group Inc., Tel. (416)
815-0700 x 229, Email: jsmith(at)equicomgroup.com; Thomas Fechtner, the Trout
Group LLC, Tel. (646) 378-2931, Email: tfechtner(at)troutgroup.com; Nominated
Adviser, Canaccord Adams Limited, Ryan Gaffney, Tel. +44 (0)20 7050 6500
(YMI YM.)



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