POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these presents, that the undersigned hereby authorizes Peter
M. Strumph and Daron Evans, of Nile Therapeutics, Inc. ("Nile"), to execute for
and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned's capacity as a Section 16
reporting person of Nile, Forms 3, 4 and 5, and any amendments thereto, and
cause such form(s) to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission and The NASDAQ Stock Market. The undersigned hereby grants to each
such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform any and every
act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or proper to be done in the
exercise of any of the rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents
and purposes as the undersigned might or could do personally present, with full
power of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each such attorney-in-fact, or such attorney's-in-fact substitute or
substitutes, shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of
attorney and the rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges
that the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request
of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is Nile assuming, any of the
undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or the rules promulgated thereunder.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of, and transactions in, securities issued by Nile,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to
be executed as of this 29th day of May, 2008.

                                          /s/ David M. Tanen
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                                              David M. Tanen