Exhibit 99.1

News release via Canada NewsWire, Calgary 403-269-7605

	    Attention Business Editors:
	    New ACTICOAT(TM) Silver Coated Anti-microbial Barrier Dressing Receives
	    510(k) Clearance from the US FDA

	    PRINCETON, NJ, July 29 /CNW/ - NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals, a developer and
manufacturer of medical products that fight infection and the Advanced Wound
Management division of Smith & Nephew plc announced today that the US Food &
Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing clearance for Acticoat(TM) Flex.
Acticoat(TM) Flex is an antimicrobial barrier dressing designed to conform to
body contours and allow for flexible movement for injuries that require
sustained antimicrobial activity. Acticoat(TM) Flex represents a new addition
to the Acticoat(TM) family and is coated with NUCRYST's patented SILCRYST(TM)
nanocrystalline silver technology.
	    "We are pleased that the US FDA has granted marketing clearance for
Acticoat(TM) Flex," said David B. Holtz, Interim President and Chief Executive
Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of NUCRYST. "The launch of Acticoat(TM)
Flex by Smith & Nephew is the latest result of the successful partnership
between Smith & Nephew and NUCRYST to provide advanced antimicrobial
protection to acute trauma and burn patients, as well as to patients with
complex chronic wounds."
	    The Acticoat(TM) brand is a leader in the antimicrobial advanced wound
care market. Acticoat(TM) Flex simplifies the dressing of wounds with its
unique conformable design that easily contours to surfaces, including
difficult-to-protect articulating regions such as knee or elbow joints.
	    "We are delighted with the US FDA clearance for Acticoat(TM) Flex. We
have had excellent feedback from Canada where Acticoat(TM) Flex was launched
at the end of 2008. The approval from the FDA allows us to further roll out
the technology and support the fight against healthcare acquired infection"
commented Roger Teasdale, President of Smith & Nephew's Advanced Wound
Management business. "This product launch is a key to our focus on Infection
Management, one of the three focused elements of the Wound Management Global
Business Unit strategy along with Exudate Management and Negative Pressure
Wound Therapy."

	    About Acticoat(TM) Dressings with SILCRYST(TM) Nanocrystals

	    Antimicrobial barrier dressings are used to help prevent infection, a
major cause of delays in the wound healing process. Acticoat(TM) dressings
with NUCRYST's proprietary SILCRYST(TM) nanocrystalline silver coatings
provide effective antimicrobial activity thereby providing an improved
environment for the wound to heal. Acticoat(TM) dressings are now sold by
Smith & Nephew in over 30 countries and are used extensively for serious
wounds and traumatic injury.

	    About Smith & Nephew

	    Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business, specialising in
Orthopaedics, including Reconstruction, Trauma and Clinical Therapies,
Endoscopy and Advanced Wound Management products. Smith & Nephew is a global
leader in arthroscopy and advanced wound management and is one of the leading
global orthopaedics companies.
	    Smith & Nephew is dedicated to helping improve people's lives. The
Company prides itself on the strength of its relationships with its surgeons
and professional healthcare customers, with whom its name is synonymous with
high standards of performance, innovation and trust. The Company operates in
32 countries around the world. Annual sales in 2008 were $3.8 billion.

	    About NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals

	    NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: NCST; TSX: NCS) develops, manufactures
and commercializes medical products that fight infection and inflammation
using SILCRYST(TM), its patented atomically disordered nanocrystalline silver
technology. NUCRYST licensed world-wide rights for SILCRYST(TM) wound care
coating products to Smith & Nephew plc, which markets these products in over
30 countries under their Acticoat(TM) trademark. NUCRYST is also developing
pharmaceutical products to address medical conditions that are characterized
by pain, 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", "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: the future plans of
our management in relation to resolving our exchange listing deficiency. 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: the performance of stock
markets generally; our ability to satisfy regulatory and stock exchange
standards and requirements to maintain our exchange listing; our future
operation results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; 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
financial performance and operating performance of Smith & Nephew; we may not
be able to retain existing and obtain new regulatory approvals for any future
products; continued development and market acceptance of new products; the
impact of delays and challenges with new product introductions; the impact of
new product introductions on the sales of existing products; the impact of
competitive products and pricing; we may not be able to establish successful
commercialization programs, through new corporate collaborations or otherwise;
changes in currency exchange rates; our ability to protect our intellectual
property rights and to not infringe on the intellectual property rights of
others. 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, 2008 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2009, 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.

	    %SEDAR: 00023031E          %CIK: 0001344674

	    /For further information: David Wills, Gillian McArdle, Investor
Relations, (416) 504-8464, info(at)nucryst.com/
	    (NCST NCS.)

CO:  NUCRYST Pharmaceuticals Corp.

CNW 09:00e 29-JUL-09