NASDAQ: CRME TSX: COM VANCOUVER, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CRMENASDAQ:/NASDAQ:TSX:NASDAQ:COM) today announced top-line results from both the 300mg and 600mg dosing groups for its recently-completed Phase 2a pilot study of RSD1235 (oral). The study was initiated in December 2005, and an interim analysis of the 300mg dosing group relative to the initial placebo group was announced on July 24, 2006. For the 300mg dosing group, 61% (33 of 54) of patients receiving RSD1235 (oral) completed the study in normal heart rhythm, as compared to 43% (24 of 56) of all patients receiving placebo. For the 600mg dosing group, 61% (30 of 49) of patients receiving RSD1235 (oral) completed the study in normal heart rhythm, as compared to 43% of all patients receiving placebo. A Kaplan-Meier analysis of the results demonstrated a statistically significant efficacy difference between the 300mg dosing group and the placebo group (p=0.048). The difference between the 600mg dosing group and the placebo group trended toward but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.060). A combined analysis of all drug group patients relative to the placebo group also demonstrated a statistically significant difference (p=0.028). For the entire study, a total of 171 patients were successfully cardioverted after the initial 3 days of dosing and continued in the study, of which 159 reached an endpoint of the study (completion of dosing or relapse to atrial fibrillation). The remainder of the patients were discontinued from the study for reasons unrelated to atrial fibrillation. The safety data for both dosing groups suggests that RSD1235 (oral) appears well-tolerated within the target population. During the 28 days of oral dosing, serious adverse events occurred in 8% of all placebo patients, 10% of patients in the 300mg dosing group, and 11% of patients in the 600mg dosing group. Potentially drug-related serious adverse events occurred in 1% of all placebo patients, 4% of patients in the 300mg dosing group and 5% of patients in the 600mg dosing group. There were no cases of drug-related "Torsades de Pointes", a well-characterized arrhythmia which is an occasional side effect of some current anti-arrhythmic drugs. "This clinical trial has exceeded our expectations, reinforcing the signal we saw in the 300mg interim results and giving us an even greater degree of confidence in the potential for RSD1235 (oral) as a therapy for the prevention of recurrence of atrial fibrillation," said Bob Rieder, Chief Executive Officer of Cardiome. "In particular, we are encouraged by the strong safety data we've seen in a target patient population which includes a high proportion of older patients and patients with congestive heart failure." "This Phase 2a study was designed to test safety and tolerability, and we are very pleased with the clear early efficacy trends demonstrated," said Dr. Charles Fisher, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Cardiome. "The consistency in safety, tolerability and efficacy across the two dosing groups indicates the potential to realize efficacy in the broad atrial fibrillation population within the context of the doses explored." The double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, dose-ranging study was designed to explore safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary efficacy of RSD1235 (oral) over 28 days of dosing in patients at risk of recurrent atrial fibrillation. The majority of patients enrolled had experienced atrial fibrillation for greater than 30 days and less than 180 days in duration. Patients received a 300mg dose of RSD1235 (oral), a 600mg dose of RSD1235 (oral) or placebo twice per day. After the first 3 days, patients still in atrial fibrillation were electrically cardioverted. Successfully cardioverted patients continued to receive RSD1235 (oral) or placebo for the remaining 25 days and were monitored throughout the dosing period. Cardiome initiated the Phase 2a pilot study of RSD1235 (oral) in December 2005. The study was conducted across 72 centres in Canada, U.S. and Europe. Cardiome will hold a teleconference and webcast on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at 8:00am EST (5:00am PST) to discuss these results. Please dial 800-814-4853 or 416-644-3416 to access the call. There will be a separate dial-in line for analysts on which we will respond to questions at the end of the presentation. The webcast can be accessed through Cardiome's website at http://www.cardiome.com/. About Cardiome Pharma Corp. Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a product-focused cardiovascular drug development company with two clinical drug programs focused on atrial arrhythmia (intravenous and oral dosing), and a pre-clinical program directed at improving cardiovascular function. RSD1235 (iv) is the intravenous formulation of an investigational drug being evaluated for the acute conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF). Positive top-line results from two pivotal Phase 3 trials for RSD1235 (iv), called ACT 1 and ACT 3, were released in December 2004 and September 2005. An additional Phase 3 study evaluating patients with post-operative atrial arrhythmia, called ACT 2, and an open-label safety study evaluating recent-onset AF patients, called ACT 4, are ongoing. Cardiome and its co-development partner Astellas are working toward re-submitting a New Drug Application for RSD1235 (iv) following receipt of a Refusal to File letter from the FDA in May 2006. RSD1235 (oral) is being investigated as a chronic-use oral drug for the maintenance of normal heart rhythm following termination of AF. Cardiome announced positive results from a Phase 2a pilot study for RSD1235 (oral) in July 2006 and September 2006. Cardiome is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (COM) and the NASDAQ National Market (CRME). Further information about Cardiome can be found at http://www.cardiome.com/. Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer Certain statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or forward-looking information under applicable Canadian securities legislation that may not be based on historical fact, including without limitation statements containing the words "believe", "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect" and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, events or developments, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such factors include, among others, our stage of development, lack of product revenues, additional capital requirements, risk associated with the completion of clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval to market our products, the ability to protect our intellectual property, dependence on collaborative partners and the prospects for negotiating additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements and their timing. Specifically, certain risks and uncertainties that could cause such actual events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from any future events or results expressed or implied by such statements and information include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties that: we may not be able to successfully develop and obtain regulatory approval for RSD1235 (iv) or RSD1235 (oral) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation or any other current or future products in our targeted indications; our future operating results are uncertain and likely to fluctuate; we may not be able to raise additional capital; we may not be successful in establishing additional corporate collaborations or licensing arrangements; we may not be able to establish marketing and sales capabilities and the costs of launching our products may be greater than anticipated; we rely on third parties for the continued supply and manufacture of RSD1235 (iv) and RSD1235 (oral) and we have no experience in commercial manufacturing; we may face unknown risks related to intellectual property matters; we face increased competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and other factors as described in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at http://www.sec.gov/ and the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at http://www.sedar.com/. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements and information, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All forward-looking statements and information made herein are based on our current expectations and we undertake no obligation to revise or update such forward-looking statements and information to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. CONTACT: Don Graham, Director of Corporate Communication, (604) 676-6963 or Toll Free: 1-800-330-9928, Email: ; Peter K. Hofman, Director of Investor Relations, (604) 676-6993 or Toll Free: 1-800-330-9928, Email: DATASOURCE: Cardiome Pharma Corp. CONTACT: Don Graham, Director of Corporate Communication, (604) 676-6963 or Toll Free: 1-800-330-9928, Email: ; Peter K. Hofman, Director of Investor Relations, (604) 676-6993 or Toll Free: 1-800-330-9928, Email:

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