Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release	Contact:	Susan M. Mesco
		NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(908) 450-5516smesco@npsp.com

NPS Pharmaceuticals announces proposed public offering of common stock

BEDMINSTER, N.J., April 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPSP) (the “Company”) today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, 7,500,000 shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. In connection with this offering, the Company expects to grant to the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,125,000 shares of common stock to cover overallotments, if any. All of the shares are being offered by the Company. Canaccord Adams is acting as sole book-running manager and Needham & Company, LLC and Summer Street Research Partners are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The securities described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a registration statement previously filed and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. When available, copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained by sending a request to the offices of Canaccord Adams, Attn: Syndicate Department, 99 High Street, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Phone: (800) 225-6201.  Alternatively, you may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

About NPS Pharmaceuticals

NPS Pharmaceuticals is developing new treatment options for patients with rare gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders. The company is currently advancing two Phase 3 registration programs. Teduglutide, a proprietary analog of GLP-2, is being evaluated as GATTEX(R) in a Phase 3 registration study known as STEPS for intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome

and is in preclinical development for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis and other pediatric indications. NPSP558 (parathyroid hormone 1-84 [rDNA origin] injection) is being evaluated in a Phase 3 registration study known as REPLACE as a hormone replacement therapy for hypoparathyroidism. NPS complements its proprietary programs with a royalty-based portfolio of products and product candidates that includes agreements with Amgen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Nycomed, and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.

This press release contains forward-looking statements which reflect the Company’s current expectations regarding future events, including statements concerning the Company’s expectations related to the size, timing and closing of the Company’s offering of common stock. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including risks and uncertainties relating to the pricing and completion of the contemplated offering of common stock. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. For additional disclosure regarding these and other risks faced by NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., see the disclosure contained in its public filings in the U.S. with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.npsp.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Unless required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or circumstances or otherwise.

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