Merck Returns Rights for Vernakalant to Cardiome

Cardiome Pharma Corp. (Nasdaq: CRME) (TSX:COM) and Merck(NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announcedthat Merck will return the global marketing and development rights for boththe intravenous (IV) and oral formulations for vernakalant to Cardiome.Vernakalant IV is marketed, in certain countries, under the brand nameBRINAVESS.^TM BRINAVESS was approved in the European Union on September 1,2010 for the rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF) tosinus rhythm in adults: for non-surgery patients with AF of seven days or lessand for post-cardiac surgery patients with AF of three days or less. Vernakalant IV is not approved for use in the United States or Canada.