Cardiome Announces Management Change

Cardiome Announces Management Change

Vancouver, Canada, July 3, 2012 --

Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ: CRME / TSX: COM) today announced that CEO Doug Janzen has left the Company. Dr. William Hunter, a member of the Company's board of directors, has been appointed interim CEO.

Mr. Janzen joined Cardiome as Chief Financial Officer in January 2003 and occupied positions of increasing responsibility until his appointment as CEO in August of 2009.  "Doug has made huge contributions to Cardiome's development over the past decade.  On behalf of the shareholders, the board and the employees of the Company, I thank him for those many contributions." said Bob Rieder, chairman of Cardiome's board. "We wish him the very best in all his future activities".

Dr. Hunter was most recently a founder and the CEO of Angiotech Pharmaceuticals Inc., and brings deep experience in commercial operations, medical and regulatory affairs, clinical development and M&A to assist the Company in this transition. His first tasks will be to review all current activities of the Company with the immediate objective of optimizing the spend rate, to define the strategic direction of the Company, and to put in place a plan for identifying a long-term CEO.

By mid-August, Dr. Hunter and Mr. Rieder will provide the shareholders with a progress report via press release and an analyst's conference call.

About Cardiome Pharma Corp.

Cardiome Pharma Corp. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of new therapies that will improve the health of patients around the world. Cardiome has particular expertise in ion-channel modulation and in diseases associated with ion-channel dysfunction, which can range from cardiovascular to cancer to neurological and CNS disorders. Cardiome has one marketed product, BrinavessTM (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 Global Market (CRME) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (COM). For more
information, please visit our web site at www.cardiome.com.

For Further Information:

Cardiome Investor Relations

(604) 676-6993 or Toll Free: 1-800-330-9928

Email: [email protected]