Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Announces Appointment of Amit Sharma, M.D. as Vice President, Medical Affairs

NEW YORK, March 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: KERX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease (the "Company"), today announced the appointment of Amit Sharma, M.D. to the newly created position of Vice President, Medical Affairs.

Amit Sharma, M.D., is an accomplished board certified nephrologist, internist, and hypertension specialist who has a broad-based background in chronic kidney disease and dialysis. Recently, Dr. Sharma was 
Medical Director, Medical Affairs, at Reata Pharmaceuticals.  From 2005-2012, Dr. Sharma served as a Medical Director and Senior Advisor for Liberty Dialysis, LLC, a medium-size dialysis organization with over 300 dialysis clinics.  Liberty was sold 
in 2011 to Fresenius Medical Care AG for $1.7 billion.  From 2001 to 2005, Dr. Sharma served as the Director of the Dialysis Unit and of the Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic for the Naval Medical Center, San Diego.

Dr. Sharma received his medical degree from 
Louisiana State University Medical Center-New Orleans. He completed his 
fellowship in Nephrology and Hypertension from University of California in San Diego in 2001.  Dr. Sharma also has extensive experience conducting
 primary research and as a principal investigator for numerous clinical trials in the field of nephrology and hypertension. He has published in many respected peer reviewed journals and he is a well known presenter for national and international meetings.

Ron Bentsur, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sharma to Keryx. Dr. Sharma has a prominent national reputation and a proven track record of success within the dialysis community.  I believe that Dr. Sharma's vast knowledge and experience of dialysis care will be particularly invaluable to the Company as we continue to expand our presence in this field." 

Dr. Sharma stated, "I am excited to be joining Keryx.  I view Zerenex to be a uniquely attractive compound that can potentially alter current practice patterns with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of dialysis and chronic kidney disease patients worldwide. I look forward to applying my nephrology and dialysis expertise to contribute towards the success of Zerenex."

ABOUT KERYX BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Keryx Biopharmaceuticals is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease. Keryx is developing Zerenex (ferric citrate), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphate and form non-absorbable complexes. Keryx has completed a U.S.-based Phase 3 clinical program for Zerenex for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (elevated phosphate levels) in patients with end-stage renal disease, conducted pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the FDA, and Keryx expects to submit a New Drug Application with the FDA in the second quarter of 2013 and a Marketing Authorization Application with the EMA in mid-2013.  Zerenex is also in Phase 2 development in the U.S. for the management of phosphorus and iron deficiency in anemic patients with Stages 3 to 5 non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease.  In addition, Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has filed its New Drug Application for marketing approval of ferric citrate in Japan for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.  Keryx is headquartered in New York City.

Cautionary Statement

Some of the statements included in this press release 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. The factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are 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 in our 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: 212.531.5965
E-mail: [email protected] 

SOURCE Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.