Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Announces Implementation of Strategic Restruct...( Plan includes refocusing of op...)

Plan includes refocusing of operations and workforce reduction

NEW YORK, April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Keryx Biopharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: KERX) today announced that it is implementing a strategic restructuring plan to reduce its cash burn rate and re-focus its development efforts. The plan, which was prompted by the negative outcome of the Company's pivotal SUN-MICRO Phase 3 clinical trial of Sulonex(TM) (sulodexide) for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, and subsequent decision by the Company to terminate the ongoing SUN-MACRO Phase 4 clinical trial, is intended to conserve the financial resources of the Company and enable it to focus its efforts on programs and opportunities that management believes are most likely to provide long-term shareholder value.

The Company anticipates that the restructuring, which includes a workforce reduction of approximately 50%, will reduce its cash burn rate to approximately $10 million to $15 million for the remainder of the year. Following the workforce reduction, the Company will have approximately 25 full and part-time employees.

The Company expects to end the first quarter of 2008 with approximately $50 million of cash, cash equivalents, investment securities, interest receivable and license receivable. Of the $50 million, approximately $12 million is invested in auction note securities, which have failed auctions in 2008. Accounts payable and accrued expenses as of the end of the first quarter is expected to total approximately $17 million, and is primarily related to the completion and shut-down of the Sulonex clinical program and restructuring costs.

Additional elements of the Company's strategic restructuring and corporate re-focusing will include, with
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