NUCRYST Announces Management Realignment and R&D Portfolio Change

WAKEFIELD, MA, April 30, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and inflammation, today announced that the Company has realigned its management team to further advance its cost reduction and growth strategies. The realignment results in increased management responsibilities for David C. McDowell, Vice President Operations and the appointment of Edward Gaj, Jr., RPh to the newly created position of Vice President Marketing.

The Company also announced that it has discontinued the development of, and out-licensing initiatives for, the current formulation of NPI 32101 silver to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Preclinical work will continue on the use of NPI 32101 silver for the treatment of Clostridium difficile, as will the Company's other projects to develop line-extensions, product improvements and new products for the treatment of infection and inflammation in hospitals, specialty clinics and long-term care facilities.

"I am confident that Dave and Ed's industry expertise, commitment to success and leadership skills will contribute greatly to NUCRYST's future growth, and I am pleased to announce this significant expansion of their responsibilities," said Thomas E. Gardner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Effective May 1, 2008, Mr. McDowell, a 24-year veteran of the pharmaceutical industry will add Research and Development to his current responsibilities for Manufacturing, Quality/Regulatory and Medical Affairs. Research and Development currently reports to Katherine J. Turner, PhD, Vice President Research and Development, who has announced her intention to leave the Company to pursue other opportunities.

Mr. Gardner added, "Following the Company's decision to consolidate management of Research and Development activities in Canada, Katherine Turner advised us of her intention to explore opportunities outside of NUCRYST. I want to thank Dr. Turner for her contributions during her tenure at NUCRYST, and we wish her success in her future endeavors."

About Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile (also called C. difficile or C. diff) is a bacterium that is recognized as the major causative agent of colitis (inflammation of the colon) and diarrhea that may occur following antibiotic intake. C. difficile infection represents one of the most widespread hospital infections around the world. C. difficile may complicate the course of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and it is responsible for a significant occurrence of diarrhea in AIDS patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States C. difficile is responsible for tens of thousands of cases of diarrhea and at least 5,000 deaths.

About NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals

NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals develops, manufactures and commercializes medical products that fight infection and inflammation using its patented atomically disordered nanocrystalline silver technology. Smith & Nephew plc sell a range of advanced wound care products under their Acticoat(TM) trade mark. Acticoat(TM) products incorporate NUCRYST's SILCRYST(TM) coatings and are sold in over 30 countries. NUCRYST is also developing pharmaceutical products to address medical conditions that are characterized by both infection and inflammation. The Company has developed its proprietary nanocrystalline silver in a powder form, referred to as NPI 32101 for use in medical devices and as an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Acticoat(TM) is a trademark of Smith & Nephew plc

SILCRYST(TM) is a trademark of NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals Corp.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation in the United States and Canada (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The words "believes", "contribute", "develop", "advance", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "projects", "may", "might", "would", "will", "could", "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements about: our strategy, future operations, prospects and plans of management and our ability to successfully develop new products, line extensions and product improvements, expand the company's business and control costs. With respect to the forward-looking statements contained in this news release, readers are cautioned that numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements including, but not limited to: difficulties or delays in the initiation, timing, progress and results of our preclinical trials and research and development programs relating to the development of products containing our nanocrystalline silver for treatment of Clostridium difficile indications; our ability to maintain our collaboration with Smith & Nephew; our reliance on sales of Acticoat(TM) products with our SILCRYST(TM) coatings by Smith & Nephew; future sales of Acticoat(TM) may not be sufficient to adequately fund our research and development plans; our future operation results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to retain existing and obtain new regulatory approvals for our NPI 32101 barrier cream and any future products; our ability to successfully achieve sustainable cost reductions; we may not be able to establish successful commercialization programs, through new corporate collaborations or otherwise, for our NPI 32101 barrier cream or for other future products; competition from other silver-based pharmaceutical or medical device companies; our ability to raise additional financing required to fund further research and development, clinical studies and obtain regulatory approvals, on commercially acceptable terms or at all; changes in currency exchange rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and to not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others; our ability to comply with governmental regulations and standards; our ability to successfully attract and retain skilled and experienced personnel; changes in general economic and capital market conditions; other risks and uncertainties unidentified at this time; and management's response to these factors. Although we have attempted to identify the important risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results or events to differ from those expressed or implied in forward looking statements. For a more thorough discussion of the risks associated with our business, see the "Risk Factors" section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov and with securities authorities in Canada on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and NUCRYST disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise after the date hereof.

CONTACT: Gregory W. Gin, Lazar Partners, (212) 867-1762, info@nucryst.com

Ticker Symbol: (Toronto:NCS.),(NASDAQ-NMS:NCST)

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