CARDIOME PHARMA CORP

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.& VANCOUVER, British Columbia----Merck and Cardiome Pharma Corp. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has recommended marketing approval for BRINAVESS® , an investigational intravenous formulation for the conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults.

A drug candidate used to restore a steady heartbeat received a recommendation for approval in Europe, according to Merck and Co. and Cardiome Pharma Corp.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. & VANCOUVER, British Columbia----Merck and Cardiome Pharma Corp. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has recommended marketing approval for BRINAVESS™ , an investigational intravenous formulation for the conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm in adults.

Merck & Co. and Cardiome Pharma Corp. said Friday that their drug candidate Brinavess met its goal in a late-stage clinical study, as it was better at restoring a steady heartbeat than an older drug use for the same purpose.

DENVER----In a new Phase III study, BRINAVESSTM intravenous, an investigational compound being developed in the European Union by Merck and Cardiome Pharma Corp. to treat atrial fibrillation, showed that BRINAVESS was superior to amiodarone injection, in converting patients' heart rate from atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm within 90 minutes of the start of administration.