Nile Therapeutics, Inc.'s Heart-Failure Drug CD-NP on Clinical Hold

SAN FRANCISCO, March 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Nile Therapeutics, Inc. , a leading company in the development of novel therapeutics for heart failure patients, announced today that, in the course of reviewing the Investigational New Drug (IND) application materials that Nile submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the initiation of the Company's Phase IIb clinical trial with CD-NP for the treatment of acute heart failure, the FDA has placed CD-NP on clinical hold. In a letter sent to the Company this week and in a follow-up teleconference with the Company, the FDA requested additional data from the recently completed Phase IIa clinical trial and modifications to CD-NP's Investigator Brochure (IB). The Company is working diligently to respond in a timely manner and expects to be able to provide a complete response to the FDA's requests with recently finalized data from the Phase IIa clinical trial in acute heart failure patients.

About CD-NP

CD-NP is a novel chimeric natriuretic peptide in clinical development for the treatment of acute heart failure. CD-NP was designed to have direct hemodynamic and renal activity to reduce symptoms of dyspnea, be diuretic and natriuretic and preserve or enhance renal function in heart failure patients. In addition to an initial indication for acute heart failure, CD-NP has potential utility in other indications which include preservation of cardiac function subsequent to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and prevention of renal damage subsequent to cardiac surgery.

About Nile Therapeutics

Nile Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops innovative products for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and other areas of unmet medical needs. Nile is initially focusing its efforts on developing its lead compound, CD-NP, a novel rationally designed chimeric peptide in clinical studies for the treatment of heart failure, and CU-NP, a novel rationally designed natriuretic peptide. More information on Nile can be found at http://www.nilethera.com.

Safe Harbor Paragraph for Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding Nile's strategy, future operations, outlook, milestones, the timing and success of Nile's product development, the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development and regulatory process, future financial position, future financial results, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Nile may not actually achieve these plans, intentions or expectations and Nile cautions investors not to place undue reliance on Nile's forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements Nile makes. Various important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Nile makes are described in greater detail in the reports Nile files with Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" section in Item 1A of the Form 10-K Nile filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 12, 2009. Nile is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

CONTACT: Daron Evans, Chief Financial Officer, Nile Therapeutics, Inc.,
+1-415-875-7880, info@nilethera.com

Web site: http://www.nilethera.com/