NEW YORK, November 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KERX) today announced that two abstracts highlighting potential cost savings based on clinical observations from clinical trials of Zerenex™ (ferric citrate) have been accepted for poster presentation at the upcoming American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2011 Annual Meeting and exposition taking place November 8-13 in Philadelphia.

Friday, November 11, 2011 - Poster #1566

Abstract # 23502, entitled "TSAT and Serum Ferritin Increases Observed in Ferric Citrate Clinical Trials May Lead to Dialysis Cost Savings" will be presented on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 10:00am ET during the "Dialysis: Anemia, Malnutrition, and Metabolism - II" Poster Session, and will be available for viewing from 10:00am-12:00pm ET.

Saturday, November 12, 2011 - Poster #2647

Abstract # 23692, entitled "Physician Reaction to Spontaneous Rises in Transferrin Saturation and Serum Ferritin Levels in End Stage Renal Disease Patients" will be presented on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 10:00am ET during the "Dialysis: Epidemiology, Outcomes, and Clinical Trials: Non-Cardiovascular - III" Poster Session, and will be available for viewing from 10:00am-12:00pm ET.

The above abstracts are currently available online for viewing through the ASN website at: http://www.asn-online.org/education_and_meetings/kidneyweek/archives/KW11Abstracts.pdf

The Zerenex Phase 3 registration program, which is being conducted pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is comprised of an already successfully-completed Phase 3 short-term study, and an ongoing Phase 3 long-term study.

Keryx holds a worldwide license (except for certain Asian Pacific countries) to Zerenex (ferric citrate) from Panion & BF Biotech, Inc. The Japanese rights are sublicensed by Keryx to Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

ABOUT KERYX BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cancer and renal disease. Keryx is developing KRX-0401 (perifosine), a novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits Akt activation in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, and also affects a number of other key signal transduction pathways, including the JNK pathway, all of which are pathways associated with programmed cell death, cell growth, cell differentiation and cell survival. KRX-0401 is currently in Phase 3 clinical development for both refractory advanced colorectal cancer and multiple myeloma, and in Phase 1 and 2 clinical development for several other tumor types. Each of the KRX-0401 Phase 3 studies is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA. Keryx is also developing Zerenex (ferric citrate), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphate and form non-absorbable complexes. The Phase 3 clinical program of Zerenex for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (elevated phosphate levels) in patients with end-stage renal disease is being conducted pursuant to an SPA agreement with the FDA. Keryx is headquartered in New York City.

Cautionary Statement

Some of the statements included in this press release, particularly those anticipating future clinical and business prospects for Zerenex (ferric citrate), may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: our ability to successfully complete clinical trials for Zerenex; our ability to meet anticipated development timelines for Zerenex due to clinical trial results, manufacturing capabilities or other factors; our ability to replicate in our ongoing long-term Phase 3 clinical study the efficacy and safety of Zerenex observed in the previous Phase 2 studies and the short-term Phase 3 study, and the effects on intravenous (IV) iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) use observed in the Phase 2 Open Label Extension study; and other risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not intend to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at http://www.keryx.com. The information on our website, and on the ASN website, is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included as an inactive textual reference only.

KERYX CONTACT:
Lauren Fischer
Director - Investor Relations
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel: +1-212-531-5965
E-mail: lfischer@keryx.com

SOURCE Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.