Azimilide

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

BIOWIRE2K

VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BW HealthWire)--May 28, 2002

Cardiome Pharma Corp. (OTC BB:COMRF)(TSE:COM) today announced that Alan F. Moore, Ph.D., has been appointed Executive VP of Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Moore will be responsible for overseeing and implementing Cardiome's clinical programs in concert with the company's mandate to develop cardiovascular drugs.

Dr. Moore brings extensive cardiovascular expertise to the Company's development team. He has extensive clinical development experience and 23 years of senior management experience in pharmaceutical R&D. He has spent the past eight years in late stage clinical development in cardiovascular medicine, including filing an NDA on Procter & Gamble's lead antiarrhythmic compound, Azimilide.

Dr. Moore obtained a Ph.D. in pharmacology in 1974 from the University of Aston in Birmingham, England. From 1977 to 1979 he was Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Institute for Cardiovascular Studies and Department of Pharmacology at the University of Houston. From 1979 to 1982 he was Unit Leader, Pharmacology and Senior Research Scientist at Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals. Following the acquisition of Norwich Eaton by Procter & Gamble, Dr. Moore had increasing senior responsibilities as Section Chief, Director of Research, Director of New Drug Development before assuming his most recent role from 1998 to 2002 as General Manager, Cardiac R&D.

Dr. Moore has planned and directed numerous clinical programs in cardiovascular development. He has co-ordinated the development of Azimilide, which included management of a major Phase III mortality study as well as a Phase II study for Pexelizumab, a humanized mono clonal antibody for acute cardiac care.

"We are very pleased to be able to recruit a leading expert of Dr. Moore's capability," said Dr. Alan Ezrin, Cardiome's Chief Scientific Officer. "His experience adds depth to our team and will allow us to accelerate Cardiome's success in building our unique cardiovascular company. His decision to join the Company validates our science and management and his experience will be extremely valuable as we advance our clinical programs."

"I'm delighted to be part of the Cardiome team," said Dr. Moore. "I'm attracted to this skilled and visionary group by the caliber of its science, its dedication and its enthusiasm to succeed. My mandate is to directly enhance Cardiome's capabilities in the rapid development of RSD1235 and in its new approach to the management of congestive heart failure."

About Cardiome Pharma Corp

Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a product-focused cardiovascular drug development company. The Company's mission is to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. The Company has five drug programs focused on arrhythmias and congestive heart failure and gout. Cardiome is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (COM) and the NASD OTCBB market (COMRF). Further information about Cardiome can be found at www.cardiome.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

Statements contained in this news release relating to future results, events and expectation are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, those described in the Company's annual report on Form 20-F.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Robert Rieder, President & Chief Executive Officer

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

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