Exhibit 99.1

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

NPS Pharmaceuticals Announces Closing of $56.9 Million Public Offering of Common Stock and Exercise of Overallotment Option

BEDMINSTER, N.J., April 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPSP) (the “Company”) today announced the closing of a public offering of 10,350,000 shares of its common stock, including 1,350,000 shares sold pursuant to the full exercise of an overallotment option previously granted to the underwriters. All of the shares were offered by the Company. Net proceeds were approximately $53.3 million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, and estimated offering expenses. Canaccord Adams acted as sole book-running manager and Needham & Company, LLC acted as co-manager for the offering.

A registration statement relating to the shares issued in the offering has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. A final prospectus supplement relating to the offering has been 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. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and related base prospectus 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. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. 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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