Exhibit 23.1

The Board of Directors
Keyrx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement on
Form S-8 of Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. of our report dated February 28, 2002
with respect to the  consolidated  balance  sheets of Keyrx  Biopharmaceuticals,
Inc. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the related consolidated statements of
operations, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years
in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 2001,  and all related  financial
statement  schedules,  which report  appears in the  December  31, 2001,  annual
report on Form 10-K of Keyrx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Somekh Chaikin

A member firm of KPMG International
Certified Public Accountants (Isr.)

Jerusalem, Israel

March 26, 2002