ADHEREX REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS Chapel Hill, NC

REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2010 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Chapel Hill, NC, August 13,

2010 - Adherex Technologies Inc. (TSX:AHX, Pink Sheets: ADHXF), a

biopharmaceutical company dedicated to providing innovative therapies that

improve the life of cancer patients, today reported its financial results for

the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. All amounts are in U.S.

loss for the three month period ended June 30, 2010 was $0.4 million, or a loss

of $0.00 per share, compared to a net loss of $0.9 million, or a loss of $0.01

per share, in the same period in 2009. Operating expenses for the

three month period ended June 30, 2010 totaled $0.4 million, as compared to $1.0

million in the same period in 2009.

loss for the six month period ended June 30, 2010 was $0.8 million, or a loss of

$0.00 per share, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million, or a loss of $0.02 per

share, in the same period in 2009. Operating expenses for the six

month period ended June 30, 2010 totaled $0.8 million, as compared to $3.2

million in the same period in 2009.

cash equivalents totaled $7.2 million at June 30, 2010, compared to $0.7 million

at December 31, 2009. At June 30, 2010, the Company had working

capital totaling approximately $6.8 million. The increased cash

balance is as a result of the Company's recently completed

selected financial data presented below is derived from our unaudited interim

consolidated financial statements which were prepared in accordance with U.S.

generally accepted accounting principles. The complete consolidated

financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 and management's

discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations will be

available via our website at www.adherex.com and

also at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.gov.

announced on April 30, 2010, the Company reported that it has completed a first

closing of a non-brokered private placement ("Private Placement") of 240,066,664

units, at a price of $0.03 per unit for gross proceeds of $7,190,000. Adherex

intends to raise up to an additional $1,800,000 by way of a Private Placement

which will occur in one or more closings and up to an additional $12,750,000 by

way of a rights offering.

continue to make great progress in the development of our planned

eniluracil/5-FU study in metastatic breast cancer. We are in the

final stages of the study design and CRO selection," said Mr. Rosty Raykov,

Chief Executive Officer of Adherex.

Adherex's Newly Redesigned

Company would like to extend an invitation to all investors and interested

parties to visit the newly redesigned website at www.adherex.com,

which includes a video presentation by Dr. Thomas Spector on the history,

science and future development of eniluracil.

Adherex Technologies

Technologies Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of

eniluracil and 5-fluorouaricil.

This press release contains

forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and

uncertainties. The actual results, performance or achievements of the Company

might differ materially from the results, performance or achievements of the

Company expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such

forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those regarding

our development plans and the expected

funding, timing and results of our development as well as our efforts to pursue

strategic alternatives. We can provide no assurance that development will

proceed as currently anticipated, that previous results will be predictive of future outcomes, that

the expected funding, timing or results of our development will be realized, or

that we will be able to form strategic collaborations or partnerships with other

companies. We are subject to various risks, including our near term need for additional capital

to fund our operations, current and anticipated conditions in the economy and

financial markets, our history of losses, our ability to continue to meet the

listing requirements of the TSX, the uncertainties of clinical trials, drug development and

regulatory review, the early stage of our product candidates, our reliance on

collaborative partners, and other risks inherent to the biopharmaceutical

industry. For a more detailed discussion of related risk factors,

please refer to our public filings available

at www.sec.gov and www.sedar.com.

further information, please contact:

Selected Financial Data

dollars in thousands except per share amounts)