BOSTON and JERUSALEM, Feb. 6/PRNewswire/ - Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KERX; AIM: KRX) today announced the appointment of J. Wilson Totten, M.D. and Malcolm I. Hoenlein to the Company's Board of Directors. Keryx is advancing a broad post-genomics technology, KinAce(TM), for the discovery of kinase-targeted drugs, and is developing KRX-101 (sulodexide), an in-licensed product that is in late stage clinical development for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Keryx's board size will increase to seven members.

Dr. Totten has held the position of Group R&D Director at Shire Pharmaceuticals since 1998. He brings nearly 20 years experience in all aspects of the international pharmaceutical industry, including leadership roles in project management, clinical research, regulatory affairs, pharmaceuticals, and toxicology to Keryx's Board of Directors. Dr. Totten has conducted successful negotiations with major regulatory bodies, including the Food and Drug Administration, and has significant experience in licensing, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Mr. Hoenlein, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, has extensive international leadership experience, and acts as a frequent consultant to public bodies on issues of public policy. He also serves on the boards of several public companies and organizations, including Rothschild Bank, Bank Leumi USA, the Council on Foreign Affairs, and the America-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

S. Leslie Misrock, who has served on Keryx's Board of Directors since November of 1999, has resigned his position. The new board appointments, combined with Mr. Misrock's resignation, will increase the board size from six members to seven.

"I am thrilled that Dr. Totten and Mr. Hoenlein have agreed to join our Board," said Morris Laster, M.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. "Their extensive experience and impressive track records complement and add strength to our Board as we continue to advance our core KinAce(TM) technology, and develop KRX-101 (sulodexide). I would also like to thank Leslie, on behalf of the Company and the Board, for all of the invaluable advice and support he has given us over the past year."

About Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals is building a pipeline of drug candidates that target protein kinases by applying its proprietary bioinformatics technology to genomics data. Kinases, which play a key role in the way cells communicate, are implicated in a wide range of diseases. Using its KinAce(TM) drug discovery platform technology, the Company has established a rich and diverse pipeline of drug candidates in oncology, immunology, metabolic, and other disease areas. The most advanced of these candidates, KRX-123, is scheduled to enter clinical trials for advanced prostate cancer in the first half of 2001. The Company is also developing a late stage, in-licensed product, KRX-101 (sulodexide), for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Keryx recently received FDA approval to submit a Phase III clinical trial protocol for KRX-101. Keryx is traded on NASDAQ (KERX) and AIM (KRX). Web site address: www.keryxbiopharm.com

Statements contained or referenced in this news release that are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements concerning the possible approval and market potential of KRX-101, may be forward-looking statements, as the term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "believe" "scheduled" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Our actual results and the timing of certain events may differ significantly from the results discussed in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, the risks outlined in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements contained in this filing or in our Registration Statement on Form S-1 include, among other things, statements relating to our drug development and regulatory strategy, growth strategy, use of proceeds, projected capital expenditures, research and development expenditures, other costs and expenses, revenue, profitability, and liquidity and capital resources.