Cardiome Pharma Corp. Completes Transfer of Commercialization Responsibility for Brinavess™ in the EU

NASDAQ: CRME TSX: COM

VANCOUVER, Sept. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CRME / TSX: COM) today announced completion of the transfer of commercialization responsibility for BRINAVESS (vernakalant IV) in the European Union (EU) from its former partner, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co (Merck). Cardiome has begun supplying BRINAVESS under its own trade dress and transfer of the post-marketing study for BRINAVESS is now complete. Cardiome will continue to market BRINAVESS through its direct sales force in key European markets and through distribution partnerships in others, and recognize revenues for the product worldwide.

"The completion of the transfer of commercialization responsibility to Cardiome today is an exciting and transformational turning point in the company's history," said William Hunter, M.D., Cardiome's chief executive officer. "We have taken BRINAVESS from our research lab, moved it forward through clinical development, and now we have the responsibility for commercialization of the drug in order to provide patients suffering from atrial fibrillation a rapid and convenient treatment option to restore normal sinus rhythm. We thank Merck for its cooperation over the past year in the transfer of the BRINAVESS commercialization responsibilities back to Cardiome."

About Cardiome Pharma Corp.
Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of new therapies that will improve the health of patients around the world. Cardiome has one marketed product, BRINAVESS (vernakalant IV), approved in Europe and other territories for the rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults.

Cardiome is traded on the NASDAQ Capital Market (CRME) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (COM). For more information, please visit our web site at www.cardiome.com.

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SOURCE Cardiome Pharma Corp.