Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces $90 Million Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KERX) today announced that it has commenced a $90 million underwritten public offering of shares of its common stock.  In connection with this offering, Keryx expects to grant to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock, equal to up to 15% of the number of shares of common stock sold in the offering. J.P. Morgan is acting as the sole book-running manager in the offering. Keryx intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of its common stock to fund pre-launch/launch inventory build-up and pre-commercial/commercial activities related to Zerenex, the ongoing development of Zerenex in pre-dialysis, and other general corporate purposes. 

The securities described above are being offered by Keryx pursuant to a Form S-3 shelf registration statement (including a base prospectus) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the registration statement and related preliminary prospectus supplement that Keryx has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Keryx and this offering. The preliminary prospectus supplement is available for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus may also be obtained from the offices of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 (telephone: 866-803-9204).

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

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 coordination complex), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphate and form non-absorbable complexes. Zerenex has completed a U.S.-based Phase 3 clinical program 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.  Keryx's New Drug Application ("NDA"), submitted to the FDA in 2013, is currently under review and has an assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act ("PDUFA") goal date of June 7, 2014. Zerenex has also completed a Phase 2 study in the U.S. for the management of elevated serum phosphorus levels and iron deficiency anemia in patients with Stage 3 to 5 non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease.  Top-line results from this Phase 2 study were announced on November 5, 2013.  In addition, Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which filed its NDA in Japan in 2013, received approval of ferric citrate in Japan for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease on January 17, 2014.  Keryx is headquartered in New York City. 

SOURCE Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.