LEXINGTON, Mass.
May 7, 2008

NitroMed, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTMD) today reported financial results for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2008. NitroMed is the maker of BiDil(R) (isosorbide dinitrate/hydralazine hydrochloride), an orally administered medicine approved in the United States for the treatment of heart failure in self-identified black patients.

Total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3.9 million compared to $3.6 million for the same period in 2007, an increase of $0.3 million, or 10%. Sales of BiDil accounted for all revenues during both periods.

Total operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008, excluding cost of product sales, were $8.4 million, compared to $13.0 million for the same period in 2007, which represents a decrease of $4.6 million, or 36%. The year-over-year decrease in operating expenses is primarily the result of the Company's January 2008 restructuring.

The Company's net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 was $5.2 million, or $0.11 per common share, compared to a net loss of $10.1 million, or $0.27 per common share, for the same quarter in 2007.

At March 31, 2008, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities totaling $21.2 million, which excludes $1.6 million of auction rate securities classified as long-term marketable securities.

"Although the company discontinued active promotional efforts related to BiDil just two weeks into January, total prescriptions of BiDil have generally held steady during the first quarter of 2008. Approximately 32,500 BiDil prescriptions were generated in the first quarter of 2008, representing an increase of 6% over the fourth quarter of 2007. As previously announced, we are continuing to evaluate our strategic alternatives in order to maximize shareholder value," said Kenneth M. Bate, NitroMed's President, Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer. "Based on the sales trends for BiDil during a challenging quarter, we continue to believe that BiDil is an attractive and valuable asset, especially with the continued development of a planned extended release formulation of BiDil, known as BiDil XR(TM)."

"Expenses during the first quarter were carefully managed as we implemented our January 2008 restructuring plan," Mr. Bate commented. "Going forward for the year 2008, we to expect to incur approximately $16 to $18 million in operating expenses, including share-based compensation expense related to SFAS 123R but excluding cost of product sales and charges related to our January 2008 restructuring."

About NitroMed, Inc.
NitroMed of Lexington, Massachusetts is the maker of BiDil(R) (isosorbide dinitrate/hydralazine hydrochloride), an orally administered medicine available in the United States for the treatment of heart failure in self-identified black patients. In this population, BiDil is indicated as an adjunct to current standard therapies such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blockers. There is little experience in patients with New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure. BiDil was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, primarily on the basis of efficacy data from the Company's landmark A-HeFT (African American Heart Failure Trial) clinical trial.

For full prescribing information, visit: www.BiDil.com. BiDil is a registered trademark of NitroMed, Inc.

Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including the Company's expectations regarding cash management and operating expenses in 2008, its expectations for BiDil's value as an asset and the planned clinical development and commercialization of BiDil XR, and its plans to evaluate strategic alternatives intended to maximize shareholder value, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including risks relating to: difficulties in successfully developing, obtaining regulatory approval for, manufacturing and commercializing BiDil XR; the Company's ability to successfully execute on its first quarter 2008 restructuring plan, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to retain key employees and ability to achieve anticipated cost reductions; the Company's ability to identify and enter into strategic transactions and, through any such transactions, maximize shareholder value; the Company's ability to obtain or maintain intellectual property protection and required licenses; unanticipated expenses related to the Company's restructuring plan; unanticipated operating expenses; general economic and market conditions; and other important factors discussed in the Section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, which has been filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

                            NITROMED, INC.

                    SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

               (in thousands, except per share amounts)

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
(Unaudited)
                                                      March   December
                                                        31,      31,
                                                       2008     2007
                                                      ------- --------
 ASSETS

  Cash and short-term marketable securities           $21,242  $31,400
  Accounts receivable, net                              1,733    1,929
  Inventories                                           1,260    1,401
  Long-term marketable securities                       1,594        -

  Other assets                                            741      837
                                                      ------- --------

                     Total assets                     $26,570  $35,567
                                                      ======= ========

 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

  Current liabilities                                 $ 8,311  $13,342
  Deferred revenue                                          -        -
  Long-term debt                                            -        -
  Stockholders' equity                                 18,259   22,225
                                                      ------- --------

                    Total liabilities and
                     stockholders' equity             $26,570  $35,567
                                                      ======= ========

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
 2007
(Unaudited)
                                                    Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,
                                                    ------------------

                                                      2008     2007
                                                    -------- ---------
 Revenues:
   Product revenue                                  $  3,933 $   3,568

 Cost and operating expenses:
   Cost of product sales                                 979       954
   Research and development                            1,630     3,007
   Sales, general and administrative                   3,998     8,948
   Restructuring charge                                2,725     1,004
                                                    -------- ---------

   Total cost and operating expenses                   9,332    13,913
                                                    -------- ---------

 Loss from operations                                (5,399)  (10,345)
                                                    -------- ---------

   Non-operating income, net                             215       231
                                                    -------- ---------

 Net loss                                           $(5,184) $(10,114)
                                                    ======== =========

 Basic and diluted net loss per common share        $ (0.11) $  (0.27)
                                                    ======== =========

Shares used in computing basic and diluted net
 loss per common share                                45,792    37,263
                                                    ======== =========

CONTACT: NitroMed, Inc.
Jane A. Kramer, 781-266-4220
Cell: 781-640-8499

SOURCE: NitroMed, Inc.