EXHIBIT
32.1
     
    CERTIFICATION
OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
    CERTIFICATION
PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C.
SECTION 1350,
    AS
ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION
906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
     
    Pursuant
to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, the undersigned officer of Nile Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to
such officer’s knowledge, that:
     
    (1) the
accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly
period ended June 30, 2010 (the “Report”) fully complies with
the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
     
    (2) the
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
     
    Date:
August 13, 2010
    
      
        
            
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                  Title:
      Chief Executive Officer |  |  |  |  |