20-F/A 1 a2105110z20-fa.htm FORM 20-F/A
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 20-F/A

o REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or 12(g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, or

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
NOVEMBER 30, 2001

or

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1934.

Commission file number 0-29338

CARDIOME PHARMA CORP.
(Exact Name of the Registrant Specified in its Charter)

Canada
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)

3650 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6S 2L2
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

NONE

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Title
  Name of Each Exchange on Which Quoted
Common Shares   NASD OTC Bulletin Board

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

NONE

        Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report:

        10,308,962 Common Shares as of November 30, 2001 (after giving effect to a four-to-one reverse stock split completed March 8, 2002)

        Indicate by check mark whether the Company: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Company was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

YES ý        NO o

        Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the Company has elected to follow.

Item 17 ý        Item 18 o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.

NOT APPLICABLE




FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISK FACTORS

        Some of the statements in this Annual Report on Form 20-F/A constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. They include statements relating to (1) future revenues, expenses and profitability, (2) the future development and expected growth of the Company's business and the biotech industry, (3) the Company's ability to successfully execute its business model and business strategy, (4) projected capital expenditures, and (5) trends in government regulation.

        Forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expects," "intends," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, carefully consider the risks outlined under "Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors."

        Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, the Company does not assume and no other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these statements. The Company does not promise to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results or changes in assumptions.

2



TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I   4
ITEM 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers   4
ITEM 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable   4
ITEM 3. Key Information   4
ITEM 4. Information on the Company   20
ITEM 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects   39
ITEM 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees   43
ITEM 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions   59
ITEM 8. Financial Information   61
ITEM 9. The Offer and Listing   62
ITEM 10. Additional Information   63
ITEM 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   73
ITEM 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities   73
PART II   73
ITEM 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies   73
ITEM 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds   74
ITEM 15. Reserved   74
ITEM 16. Reserved   74
PART III   74
ITEM 17. Financial Statements   74
ITEM 18. Financial Statements   74
ITEM 19. Financial Statements and Exhibits   74
EXHIBIT LIST   126

3



CARDIOME PHARMA CORP.

        The information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 20-F/A is as of March 31, 2002 unless another date is indicated. All references to dollars ($) in this document are expressed in Canadian funds, unless otherwise indicated. On April 18, 2002, the exchange rate for conversion of Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars was Cdn.$1.00 = U.S.$0.6350 based upon the Federal Reserve Bank of New York noon buying rate. All references to number of shares and similar information gives effect to a four-to-one share consolidation (reverse stock split) we completed on March 8, 2002. As used in this Annual Report, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms "we," "us," "our," and similar terms, as well as references to "Cardiome" or the "Company" mean Cardiome Pharma Corp.


PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

        N/A.


ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

        N/A.


ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The following selected consolidated financial data has been derived from, should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the consolidated financial statements of Cardiome prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("Canadian GAAP") which conforms to United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") except as disclosed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements included herein. This financial data should be read in conjunction with Cardiome's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under "Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects".

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        The exchange rate for conversion to US dollars is detailed below in this Item 3, under the heading "Currency Exchange Rates".


CARDIOME CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 
  Years Ended November 30
 
 
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
  1997
 
OPERATING DATA                                
Revenue                                
Research collaborative, licensing and option fees   $ 197,028   $ 92,095   $ 482,876   $ 228,767      
Grant income     88,137     135,363     45,810     4,234   $ 22,260  
Interest and other income     347,078     495,894     258,395     320,286     106,187  
   
 
 
 
 
 
      632,243     723,352     787,081     553,287     128,447  
   
 
 
 
 
 
LOSS, Canadian GAAP   $ (7,157,885 ) $ (6,495,636 ) $ (4,451,320 ) $ (5,168,419 ) $ (2,749,088 )
Basic and Diluted Loss per common share, CDN GAAP   $ (0.69 ) $ (0.69 ) $ (0.66 ) $ (0.82 ) $ (0.61 )
Weighted average number of outstanding common shares, CDN GAAP     10,304,579     9,359,210     6,707,933     6,320,169     4,511,512  
   
 
 
 
 
 
LOSS, Canadian GAAP   $ (7,157,885 ) $ (6,495,636 ) $ (4,451,320 ) $ (5,168,419 ) $ (2,749,088 )
Adjustment to eliminate retroactive change in accounting policy         1,499,598              
Adjustment for stock-based compensation     (79,100 )   (207,900 )   (51,000 )   (129,000 )   (237,500 )
Amortization of other assets     (102,720 )                
   
 
 
 
 
 
LOSS, U.S. GAAP before cumulative effect of change in accounting policy     (7,339,705 )   (5,203,938 )   (4,502,320 )   (5,297,419 )   (2,986,588 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy     (1,499,598 )                
   
 
 
 
 
 
LOSS, U.S. GAAP   $ (8,839,303 ) $ (5,203,938 ) $ (4,502,320 ) $ (5,297,419 ) $ (2,986,588 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Loss per common share, US GAAP:                                
Before change in accounting policy   $ (0.71 ) $ (0.56 ) $ (0.67 ) $ (0.84 ) $ (0.66 )
Change in accounting policy     (0.15 )                
Loss per common share, US GAAP   $ (0.86 ) $ (0.56 ) $ (0.67 ) $ (0.84 ) $ (0.66 )
Weighted average number of outstanding shares, US GAAP     10,304,579     9,359,210     6,707,933     6,320,169     4,511,512  

5


 
  As at November 30
 
  2001
  2000
  1999
  1998
  1997
BALANCE SHEET DATA                              
Total Assets:                              
CDN GAAP   $ 6,269,623   $ 13,072,040   $ 9,863,730   $ 8,808,686   $ 11,111,530
Unrealized gain on cash equivalents     3,351     9,150            
Unrealized gain on short-term investments     26,240     108,512            
Adjustment for future income taxes     428,000                
Amortization of other assets     (102,720 )              
US GAAP   $ 6,624,494   $ 13,189,702   $ 9,863,730   $ 8,808,686   $ 11,111,530
Net Assets:                              
CDN GAAP   $ 4,013,549   $ 10,481,434   $ 8,967,451   $ 8,088,581   $ 10,846,341
Unrealized gain on cash equivalents     3,351     9,150            
Unrealized gain on short-term investments     26,240     108,512            
Adjustment for future income taxes     428,000                
Amortization of other assets     (102,720 )              
Adjustment for deferred revenue         1,499,598            
US GAAP   $ 4,368,420   $ 12,098,694   $ 8,967,451   $ 8,088,581   $ 10,846,341
Share Capital:                              
CDN GAAP   $ 32,251,393   $ 32,235,393   $ 25,282,040   $ 19,951,850   $ 17,541,191
Allocation of proceeds from share capital to warrants     (1,085,000 )   (1,085,000 )          
Fair value of agents' warrants     (200,000 )   (200,000 )          
US GAAP   $ 30,966,393   $ 30,950,393   $ 25,282,040   $ 19,951,850   $ 17,541,191
Number of Shares Outstanding as at year-end, CDN & US GAAP     10,308,962     10,303,962     8,975,736     6,918,325     6,273,650

6


        On March 8, 2002, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Paralex, Inc., or Paralex, in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares of Cardiome. The acquisition provides the Company with certain intellectual property rights relating to the use of oxypurinol and other related compounds called xanthine oxidase inhibitors for the treatment of congestive heart failure, other cardiovascular disorders and neuromuscular disease. In connection with the acquisition, the Company completed a concurrent unit financing of approximately $30.9 million (the equivalent of approximately U.S.$19.5 million) (the "unit financing"). See "History and Development of the Company—Acquisition of Paralex" under "Item 4. Information on the Company".

        The following summary pro forma financial information has been derived from, should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, the pro forma consolidated financial statements of Cardiome, the consolidated financial statements of each of Cardiome and Paralex and notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this Annual Report. The pro forma information reflects the effect of the acquisition of Paralex by Cardiome under Canadian GAAP. The pro forma consolidated statements of operations for the nine month period ended August 31, 2002 and for the year ended November 30, 2001 give effect to the acquisition and the unit financing as though they occurred on December 1, 2000.


Summary Pro Forma Financial Information

PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

 
  Nine Month Period
ended August 31, 2002

  Year Ended
November 30, 2001

 
Revenue              
  Research collaborative, licensing and option fees   $ 1,390,237   $ 197,028  
  Grant Income     36,000     88,137  
  Interest and other income     385,400     347,078  
   
 
 
      1,811,637     632,243  
   
 
 
Expenses              
  Research and development expenses   $ 6,623,153   $ 5,498,838  
  General and administrative expenses     2,498,958     2,106,770  
  Amortization     2,651,277     3,510,101  
   
 
 
      11,773,388     11,115,709  
   
 
 
Loss before income taxes     (9,961,751 )   (10,483,466 )
Deferred income tax recovery     100,000     10,000  
   
 
 
Net loss for the year, CDN GAAP   $ (9,861,751 ) $ (10,473,466 )
   
 
 
Net loss per common share, CDN GAAP     (0.35 )   (0.38 )
Weighted average number of outstanding shares, CDN GAAP     28,296,821     27,879,515  
   
 
 
Net loss for the year, Canadian GAAP   $ (9,861,751 ) $ (10,473,466 )
Adjustment for stock-based compensation     (148,299 )   (79,100 )
Amortization of other assets     (77,040 )   (102,720 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy         (1,499,598 )
   
 
 
Net loss for the year, US GAAP   $ (10,087,090 ) $ (12,154,884 )
   
 
 
Net loss per common share, US GAAP     (0.36 )   (0.44 )
Weighted average number of outstanding shares, US GAAP     28,296,821     27,879,515  

7


CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES

        In this Annual Report all references to dollars ($) are expressed in Canadian funds, unless otherwise indicated. As of April 18, 2002, the exchange rate for conversion of Canadian dollars into U.S. Dollars was Cdn$1.00 = U.S.$0.6350. The following table sets forth the high and low rates of exchange of Canadian dollars into U.S. dollars for each month during the previous six months and the average of such exchange rates during the five most recent fiscal years of the Company. Exchange rates represent the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers payable in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The average rates presented in the table below represent the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during a year for the past five fiscal years.

 
  Exchange Rate Canadian Dollars into U.S. Dollars
 
  High
  Low
Month ended March 31, 2002   $ 0.6342   $ 0.6267

Month ended February 28, 2002

 

$

0.6295

 

$

0.6207

Month ended January 31, 2002

 

$

0.6290

 

$

0.6200

Month ended December 31, 2001

 

$

0.6396

 

$

0.6254

Month ended November 30, 2001

 

$

0.6363

 

$

0.6241

Month ended October 31, 2001

 

$

0.6418

 

$

0.6334

 


 

Average

Fiscal year ended November 30, 2001

 

$

0.6476

Fiscal year ended November 30, 2000

 

$

0.6748

Fiscal year ended November 30, 1999

 

$

0.6711

Fiscal year ended November 30, 1998

 

$

0.6763

Fiscal year ended November 30, 1997

 

$

0.7224

Fiscal year ended November 30, 1996

 

$

0.7331

RISK FACTORS

        You should consider carefully the following risks and other information included in this Annual Report, including our historical consolidated financial statements and related notes, before you decide to purchase our common shares. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected. As a result, the trading price of our common shares could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment.

We are establishing a new pharmaceutical development business and have no developed or approved products

        We are in the early drug discovery and development stage and are subject to all of the risks associated with the establishment of a new business enterprise. As a result, our business must be evaluated in light of the problems, delays, uncertainties and complications encountered in connection with a newly established pharmaceutical development business.

        Our proposed products are currently in the research and development stage and no revenues have been generated to date from product sales, nor do we expect to generate any product revenues in the

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foreseeable future. Most of the pre-clinical research and clinical development work and testing for our product candidates remains to be completed, as Kv1.5 is in the pre-clinical stage, RSD1235 in a Phase II clinical trial and oxypurinol has not yet commenced a phase II clinical trial. In addition, the intellectual property rights and pre-clinical data associated with RSD1122 were returned to us from our former collaborative partner, AstraZeneca on July 4, 2002. We will evaluate the pre-clinical data from AstraZeneca and decide whether or not to carry out and fund further research and development on this drug candidate. Accordingly, it remains uncertain as to whether our research and development efforts will be successful. There is a possibility that none of our potential products will be found to be safe and effective or that we will be able to receive necessary regulatory clearances in order to commercialize them.

        Even if we do develop a safe and effective product and obtain the necessary regulatory clearances, the process will take years, and by the time this occurs, because of the competitive and dynamic nature of the cardiac drug industry, there is a risk that at such time, any such product:

    will not be economical to market, or marketable at prices that will allow us to achieve profitability,

    will not be successfully marketed or achieve market acceptance,

    will not be preferable to existing or newly developed products marketed by third parties; or

    will infringe proprietary rights held by third parties now or in the future, that would preclude us from marketing such product.

        Our failure to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, or introduce and market our products that are under development would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, by the time our products, if any, are ready to be commercialized, what we believe to be the market for these products may have changed. This Annual Report includes estimates of the number of patients who have received or might have been candidates to use a specific product. Accordingly, these estimates may not accurately reflect the true market or market prices for such products or the extent to which such products, if successfully developed, will actually be used by patients.

We have limited revenues, a history of significant losses and an accumulated deficit

        We have had no sales revenue to date. Although we have been involved in the pharmaceuticals industry since 1992, we have been engaged only in research and development. We have generated limited non-sales revenue and have incurred significant operating losses, including net losses of $8,921,122, $7,157,885, $6,495,636, and $4,451,320 for the nine month period ended August 31, 2002 and for the years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999 respectively. Our revenues were $1,811,637, $632,243, $723,352 and $787,081 for the nine month period ended August 31, 2002 and for the years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Since inception, our accumulated deficit is $39,317,232, as of August 31, 2002. We anticipate that we will incur substantial operating expenses in connection with the research, development, testing and approval of our proposed products and we expect these expenses to result in continuing and significant operating losses for the foreseeable future. If we are unable to develop, obtain regulatory clearance for, and successfully commercialize our products candidates, we will not be able to significantly increase revenues or achieve profitable operations.

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We will have additional future capital needs and there are uncertainties as to our ability to raise additional funding

        We will require substantial additional capital resources to further develop our products candidates, obtain regulatory approvals and ultimately to commercialize our products. While we believe that our current capital resources, including the proceeds from outstanding warrants, will be sufficient to fund operations as currently anticipated for at least the next year, we do not expect to be able to commercialize our product candidates during this period. Accordingly, unless we are able to access the capital markets, our resources during this period will be limited to cash on hand and any revenues we are able to generate from opportunities we may have to enter into corporate collaboration or licensing arrangements.

        In addition, our future cash requirements may vary materially from those now expected. For example, our future capital requirements may increase if:

    we make faster than expected scientific progress in our discovery, research and development projects, if we expand the magnitude and scope of these activities, or if we modify our focus as a result of our discoveries;

    our progress with pre-clinical studiesand clinical trials is delayed or we experience set backs;

    we experience delays or unexpected increased costs in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals;

    we experience unexpected or increased costs relating to preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing patent claims; or

    we are required or elect to develop, acquire or license new technologies and products.

        We intend to seek additional funding through corporate collaborations and licensing arrangements, public or private equity or debt financing , and/or capital lease transactions. However, if our research and development activities do not show positive progress, or if capital markets conditions in general or with respect to biotechnology or development stage companies such as ours are unfavorable, our ability to obtain additional funding on acceptable terms, if at all, will be negatively affected. Additional equity financing could result in significant dilution to our shareholders.

        If sufficient capital is not available, we may be required to delay, reduce the scope of, eliminate or divest of one or more of our discovery, research or development projects, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations.

Our share price has experienced volatility and may be subject to fluctuation in the future based on market conditions

        The market prices for the securities of biotechnology companies, including our own, have historically been highly volatile. The market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of any particular company. In addition, because of the nature of our business discussed elsewhere herein, certain factors such as our announcements, competition by new therapeutic products or technological innovations, government regulations, fluctuations in our operating results, results of clinical trials, public concern regarding the safety of drugs generally, general market conditions and developments in patent and proprietary rights can have an adverse impact on the market price of our common shares. For example, since 1996, after giving effect to our reverse stock split completed on March 8, 2002, our share price in the United States experienced an increase from $2.44 during our fiscal year ended November 30, 1997 to our historic high of $13.00 during our fiscal year ended November 30, 1998 and then a drop to our historic low of $1.00 during the first quarter of our fiscal year ended November 30, 2000. During the period from September 1, 2000 to December 31, 2000 alone, the price of our shares ranged from a high of

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$9.00 to a low of $2.00 as we announced our successful completion of a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca in October 2000 and our unsuccessful Phase II clinical results of our Cough Program, one of our previous projects, in December 2000.

It is uncertain whether any products we develop will receive regulatory approval and changes in regulatory policy could cause potential delays in receiving approval

        The pre-clinical studies and clinical trials of any products developed by us and the manufacturing, labeling, sale, distribution, export or import, marketing, advertising and promotion of any of those products are subject to regulation by federal, provincial, state and local governmental authorities in the United States, principally by the Food and Drug Administration in Canada by the Therapeutic Products Directorate and by other similar agencies in other countries. Any product developed by us, if any, must receive all relevant regulatory approvals or clearances before it may be marketed and sold in a particular country.

        Currently, in connection with our preclinical development activities for RSD1122 and Kv1.5, our preparation for a Phase II clinical trial for oxypurinol, and our Phase II clinical trials for RSD 1235, we are required to adhere to guidelines established by the Food and Drug Administration and the Therapeutic Products Directorate. These agencies and the regulatory process in general require us to conduct extensive pre-clinical studies and clinical trials of each of our product candidates in order to establish its safety and efficacy. These pre-clinical studies and clinical trials can take many years and requires the expenditure of substantial resources. In connection with our clinical development strategy for oxypurinol, we intend to rely on the safety data from clinical trials of oxypurinol in the gout application, to advance the clinical trial process of oxypurinol for the treatment of congestive heart failure to Phase II clinical trials. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not accept this prior clinical data, and data generated in different indication, for the congestive heart failure application. As a result, we may not be able to proceed with Phase II studies with oxypurinol for congestive heart failure without expending significant additional resources on conducting additional pre-clinical study and clinical trials.

        In addition to the risk of unfavorable results of our research, because the data obtained from our pre-clinical and clinical activities are susceptible to varying interpretations, our successful completion of the regulatory process is uncertain. We may encounter delay, have limits imposed on us or our product candidates or fail to obtain the regulatory approval or clearance required to commercialize our product candidates . In addition, delays or rejections may be encountered based upon changes in regulatory policy during the period of product development and/or the period of review of any application for regulatory approval or clearance for a product. Delays in obtaining regulatory approvals or clearances would adversely affect the marketing of any products developed by us, if any, impose significant additional costs on us, diminish any competitive advantages that we may otherwise have attained and adversely affect our ability to receive royalties and generate revenues and profits. Accordingly, despite our expenditures and investment of time and effort, we may never receive any required regulatory approvals or clearances for any products developed by us.

        Regulatory approval, if granted, may entail limitations on the indicated uses for which a new product may be marketed that could limit the potential market for such product, and product approvals, once granted, may be withdrawn if problems occur after initial marketing. Furthermore, manufacturers of approved products are subject to pervasive review, including compliance with detailed regulation governing good manufacturing practices. Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in, among other things, warning letters, fines, injunctions, civil penalties, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, refusal of the government to renew marketing applications and criminal prosecution.

11



        We are also subject to numerous federal, provincial and local laws, regulations and recommendations relating to safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, the experimental use of animals, the environment and the use and disposal of hazardous substances, used in connection with our discovery, research and development work. Although we have not yet been required to expend identifiable additional amounts to comply with these regulations, the extent of government regulations may change in a manner which could have an adverse effect on the discovery, development, production and marketing of our products, and we may be required to incur significant additional costs to comply with future laws or regulations.

We have substantial competition in the pharmaceutical industry and with respect to products we are developing

        The pharmaceutical industry is very competitive. Many companies, as well as research organizations, currently engage in or have in the past engaged in efforts related to the development of products in the same therapeutic areas as we do. Because of the number of competitors we face, as well as resources available to certain of our competitors, there is a risk that one or more of our competitors may develop more effective or more affordable products than us, or may achieve earlier patent protection or product commercialization than us, or that such competitors will commercialize products will render our products candidate obsolete, possibly before we are able to commercialize them.

        Many of the companies developing competing technologies and products have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in discovery, research and development, manufacturing, pre-clinical studies and clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing than we do. Other smaller companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private research organizations may also conduct research, seek patent protection and establish collaborative arrangements for discovery, research, clinical development and marketing of products similar to what we do. Currently, these companies and institutions compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to our projects. Once we develop a marketable product, in addition to the foregoing, we will face competition with respect to product efficacy and safety, ease of use and adaptability to various modes of administration, acceptance by physicians, the timing and scope of regulatory approvals, availability of resources, reimbursement coverage, price and patent position, including potentially dominant patent positions of others.

        There is extensive competition within our area of concentration, antiarrhythmic drugs, both from existing therapies and therapies under development. Our most significant competitors in this therapeutic area are well established, large pharmaceuticals companies that have significantly more financial resources than us. These competitors currently produce and market both generic and branded antiarrhythmic drugs. Examples of generic antiarrhythmic drugs include propafenone, atenolol, and diltiazem, amiodarone. Examples of branded antiarrhythmic include Tambocor (flecainide) produced by 3M Pharmaceuticals, Quinaglute (quinidine gluconate) and Betapace (sotalol) produced by Berlex Laboratories, and Tykosin (dofetilide) produced by Pfizer. While side effects are a risk of all medication, those associated with existing antiarrhythmic drugs are especially hard to manage. These side effects include proarrhythmia, the more-frequent occurrence of pre-existing arrhythmias or the appearance of new arrhythmias as bad or worse than those being treated. We believe our atrial arrhythmia drug candidate will be able to compete with the aforementioned drugs on the basis of superior safety, however, our drugs are still in early stages of development. We need to conduct extensive additional pre-clinical studies and clinical trials to gain regulatory approvals for commercialization and face the risk that other promising drugs may be introduced to the market by our competitors ahead of ours. Even if we are able to provide a safer antiarrhythmic drug relative to the

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aforementioned drugs and are successful in obtaining the required regulatory approvals for commercialization, we will face with additional marketing risk such as competition on the basis of ease of use; adaptability to various modes of administration; acceptance by physicians; and coverage of our patent position relative to those of our competitors.

        The competition within the congestive heart failure therapeutic area is even more extensive compared to those within the antiarrhythmia therapeutic area. There are more congestive heart failure drugs available in the market and many of these drugs have side effects that are easier to manage compared to those of antiarrhythmic drugs. Examples of generic drugs for conventional treatment of congestive heart failure include spironolactone and digoxin, and for supplemental treatment of congestive heart failure include enalapril, isosorbide, and metoprolol. Example of branded drugs for supplemental treatment of congestive heart failure include Capoten (captopril) produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Coreg (carvedilol) produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Norvasc (amlodipine) produced by Pfizer. Competition also comes from new emerging therapies using angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as valsartan for use in patient with congestive heart failure currently being studied by Novartis, and calcium channel blockers. We believe we can compete with the aforementioned drugs by introducing a new therapeutic approach, xanthine oxidase inhibitors, which we believe have the ability to increase the contraction strength of the heart in patient with congestive heart failure without increasing the oxygen consumed by the heart to the extent caused by some of the current medication. However, our drug candidate, oxypurinol, is still in very early stage of development. Other companies with greater resources may introduce alternative drugs or new therapies much faster than us. Even if we are able to establish oxypurinol as a safer and more effective alternative to other drugs and are successful in obtaining the required regulatory approvals for commercialization, we still have to overcome significant marketing risks and challenges in order to achieve commercial success.

We are dependent upon our key personnel, who are necessary for us to achieve our scientific and business objectives

        As a technology driven company, intellectual input from key management and scientists is critical to achieve our scientific and business objectives. We are particularly dependent on the services of Robert Rieder, our CEO and President and Alan Ezrin, our Chief Scientific Officer to provide this input. Consequently, our ability to retain these individuals, and attract other qualified individuals is critical to our success. The loss of the services of key individuals might significantly delay or prevent achievement of our scientific or business objectives. In addition, because of a relative scarcity of individuals with the high degree of education and scientific achievement required for our business, competition among biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies for qualified employees is intense, and as a result, we may not be able to attract and retain such individuals on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, because we do not maintain "key person" life insurance on any of our officers, employees or consultants, any delay in replacing such persons, or an inability to replace them with persons of similar expertise, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        We also have relationships with scientific collaborators at academic and other institutions, some of whom conduct research at our request or assist us in formulating our research and development strategy. These scientific collaborators are not our employees and may have commitments to, or consulting or advisory contracts with, other entities that may limit their availability to us. In addition, these collaborators may have arrangements with other companies to assist such other companies in developing technologies that may prove competitive to us.

        Although we have employment contracts of varying lengths with all of our key executives, all of which include an incentive provision for the granting of stock options which vest over time designed to encourage the individual to stay with the company, our competitors could compensate our employees for any lost compensation, or a declining stock price, whether as a result of disappointing progress in our development programs or as a result of market conditions generally, and could render such agreements of little value to our employees.

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Our products will rely on licenses of proprietary technology owned by third parties

        The manufacture and sale of any products developed by us will involve the use of processes, products, or information, the rights of which are owned by third parties. Specifically, the rights to oxypurinol, held by Paralex, our wholly owned subsidiary, are under license pursuant to our licenses with The Johns Hopkins Universityand ILEX Oncology, Inc. Our license with The Johns Hopkins University is an exclusive worldwide license to certain patent applications. In addition to license fees already paid, our license with The Johns Hopkins University requires us to make royalty payments on the net sales on any product we develop with the licensed technology. Our obligation to make such payments and the license itself terminate on April 17, 2021. Our license with ILEX is an exclusive worldwide sublicense under an exclusive license ILEX has obtained from Burroughs Wellcome Co, and The Wellcome Foundation Ltd. In addition to initial fees and option fees already paid, our license with ILEX requires us to pay other milestone payments and royalties based on net sales of products we develop. The license terminates upon the expiration of ILEX obligation to pay royalties on its original license of the technology, determined on a country by country basis, at which time our license will convert into a fully-paid, non-exclusive royalty-free license or sublicense. Although we have obtained licenses or rights with regard to the use of certain of such processes, products, and information, because of the uncertainty regarding the length of time it may take for us to develop any marketable products with this technology, it is possible that such licenses or rights might be terminated or expire during critical periods. Furthermore, because we are at a very early stage of product development, we cannot determine if additional licenses or other rights may be required in order to produce a marketable product. If such additional licenses or other rights are crucial for marketing purposes, and we are not able to obtain them at all or on favorable terms, the commercial value of our product will be significantly impaired. In addition to the foregoing, our licenses with the University of British Columbia require royalty payments on the net sales of any product we develop with the licensed technology. The license with the University of British Columbia terminates upon expiration of the last patent obtained under it, which is September 23, 2014. Some of these licenses provide for limited periods of exclusivity that may be extended only with the consent of the licensor. If we experience delays in developing our products and extensions are not granted on any or all of such licenses, our opportunity to realize the benefits of our efforts may be limited.

We rely on proprietary technology, the protection of which can be unpredictable and costly

        Our success will depend in part upon our ability to obtain patent protection or patent licenses. We have licensed one patent, three patent applications and certain other rights relating to oxypurinol. The composition of matter patents for oxypurinol, have expired. Our license with The Johns Hopkins University provides for patent rights as they relate to the commercial use of xanthine oxidase inhibitors, or xanthine oxidase inhibitors for cardiovascular disease via the sensitizing of muscle cells to calcium ions. However, at this point in time, it is not certain that this is the method of action of xanthine oxidase inhibitors. If it is not, the rights we have obtained may have limited value. In order to obtain patent protection surrounding oxypurinol, we will be required to file patent applications relating to novel processes for manufacturing, delivery, use, new formulations or other aspects of oxypurinol.

        Currently, we have 41 patent applications and have licensed certain rights under an additional 17 patents relating to RSD 1235, RSD1122 and the related family of compounds for antiarrhythmia and local anaesthesia applications. We have two patent applications relating to Kv1.5. We have 58 additional patent applications relating to areas we are no longer actively pursuing.

        We intend to file, when appropriate, additional patent applications with respect to inventions. However, because the patent positions of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions, it is uncertain that any patents will be issued or that, if issued, they will be of commercial value. It is impossible to anticipate the breadth or degree of protection that patents will afford products developed by us or the underlying technology. There is

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also a risk that any patents issued covering our products or any patents licensed to us may be successfully challenged or that our products might infringe the patents of third parties. If our products infringe the patents of others, we may be required to design around such patents, potentially causing increased costs and delays in product development and introduction or precluding us from developing, manufacturing, or selling our planned products. The scope and validity of patents which may be obtained by third parties, the extent to which we may wish or need to obtain patent licenses, and the cost and availability of such licenses are currently unknown. If such licenses are obtained, it is likely they would be royalty-bearing which could reduce our income. If licenses cannot be obtained on an economical basis, delays in market introduction of our planned products could occur or introduction could be prevented, in some cases after the expenditure of substantial funds. If we defend or contest the validity of patents relating to our products or the products of a third party, we could incur substantial legal expenses with no assurance of success.

        In certain instances, we may elect not to seek patent protection but instead rely on the protection of our technology through confidentiality agreements. The value of our assets could be reduced to the extent that other persons obtain patents, or confidential measures are breached or become unenforceable. However, third parties may independently develop or obtain similar technology and such third parties may be able to market competing products and obtain regulatory approval through a showing of equivalency to one of our products which has obtained regulatory approvals, without being required to undertake the same lengthy and expensive clinical studies that we would have already completed.

        Litigation may also be necessary to enforce patents issued or licensed to us or to determine the scope and validity of a third party's proprietary rights. We could incur substantial costs if we are required to defend ourselves in patent suits brought by third parties, if we participate in patent suits brought against or initiated by our corporate collaborators or if we initiate such suits. Currently, we may not have the necessary resources to participate in or defend any such activities or litigation. Even if we did have the resources to vigorously pursue our interests in litigation, because of the complexity of the subject matters, it is impossible to predict at this point whether we would prevail in any such action. An adverse outcome in litigation or an interference to determine priority or other proceeding in a court or patent office could subject us to significant liabilities, require disputed rights to be licensed from third parties or require us to cease using certain technology or products, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The inability to manage our future growth could impair our operations and financial results

        Our future growth, if any, may cause a significant strain on our management, operational, financial and other resources. Our ability to manage our growth effectively will require us to implement and improve our operational, financial, manufacturing and management information systems and to expand, train, manage and motivate our employees. These demands may require the addition of management personnel and the development of additional expertise by management. Any increase in resources devoted to research, product development and marketing and sales efforts without a corresponding increase in our operational, financial, manufacturing and management information systems could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

        In particular, the anticipated benefits of the acquisition of Paralex, Inc. will not be achieved unless we are successfully combined with Paralex, Inc. in a cost efficient and timely manner. The combination of our business with Paralex, Inc. will require integration of research and development and administrative operations. The transition to a combined company may require substantial attention from management, which has limited experience in integrating companies and managing the growth of the combined companies. Although Paralex has incurred only limited expenses as it had not conducted business activities other than entering into license agreements with The John Hopkins University and ILEX Oncology, Inc, we expect to spend a significant amount of our resources on the development of

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oxypurinol. The diversion of management attention and any difficulties encountered in the transition process could have an adverse impact on our ability to successfully pursue the development of the drug candidates expected to be retained by us. The risks associated with our absorption of expenses and ongoing cash requirements of Paralex, Inc. will increase the pressure on us to achieve synergistic cost reductions as rapidly as possible and, if we are unable to do so, our financial position may be impaired. We may be unable to achieve any cost savings or efficiencies.

We are uncertain as to our ability to list our common shares on the Nasdaq National Market, Small Cap Market or American Stock Exchange

        Pursuant to certain contractual obligations, we intend to apply to have our common shares listed on either the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap or the American Stock Exchange, or AMEX. Presently our common shares are primarily traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and occasionally traded, at an insignificant volume, over the OTC Bulletin Board in the United States. If we are unable to successfully list our shares on one of these exchanges, our common shares will likely remain illiquid in the United Sates. Even if we are able to list and maintain the listing of our shares on one of the foregoing markets, the volume of trading of our shares in the United Sates will likely remain small.

        Although we completed a four-to-one reverse stock split on March 8, 2002, our share price does not yet meet the minimum bid requirement of $5.00 per share for quotation on Nasdaq or the $3.00 per share price required to be listed on AMEX. Accordingly, subsequent share consolidations (or reverse stock split) could be required in order to comply with minimum bid requirements. Subsequent share consolidations may result in our failing to meet the minimum public float requirement. Accordingly, even if we are able to become listed, we may not be able to comply with all of the listing criteria required to continue a Nasdaq National Market or SmallCap Market or an AMEX listing. Additionally, we may not be able to maintain the minimum shareholders' equity, market capitalization, net income, public float, market maker and number of shareholder requirements in order to obtain and/or maintain a listing on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or AMEX.

If we develop products with commercial potential, we have no experience in commercial manufacturing

        We have no experience manufacturing commercial quantities of products and do not currently have the resources to manufacture any products that we may develop. Accordingly, if we were able to develop any products with commercial potential, we would either be required to develop the facilities to manufacture independently or be dependent upon securing a contract manufacturer or entering into another arrangement with third parties to manufacture such products. If we are unable to develop such capabilities or enter into any such arrangement on favorable terms, we may be unable to compete effectively in the marketplace.

        We intend to contract the vendor currently used by ILEX for the manufacture of oxypurinol. We may need to contract with additional manufacturers. Because of the high degree of expertise necessary to produce chemical products, it is a time consuming process to arrange for an alternative manufacturer. We may not be able to identify and qualify any such manufacturers on a timely basis, which may cause significant delay in our development process. Even if we are able to identify and qualify an alternative manufacturer, we may not be able to obtain favorable terms on any manufacturing agreement we enter into with them. We have and will rely on contract manufacturers for the foreseeable future to produce quantities of products and substances necessary for research and development, pre-clinical trials, human clinical trials and product commercialization. It will be important to us that such products can be manufactured at a cost and in quantities necessary to make them commercially viable. At this point in time, we have not attempted to identify and do not know whether there will be any third party manufacturers which will be able to meet our needs with respect to timing, quantity and quality. If we are unable to contract for a sufficient supply of required products

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and substances on acceptable terms, or if we should encounter delays or difficulties in our relationships with manufacturers, our research and development, pre-clinical and clinical testing would be delayed, thereby delaying the submission of products for regulatory approval or the market introduction and subsequent sales of such products. Any such delay may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we manufacture pharmaceutical products, the products will need to comply with good manufacturing practices in the U.S., Canada or other jurisdictions

        The manufacturer of our pharmaceutical products, if any, will be subject to current good manufacturing practices or similar regulations prescribed by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, the Therapeutic Products Directorate in Canada and similar authorities prior to the commercial manufacture of any such products in the countries where the products are manufactured. As we will be dependent on third parties, our ability to ensure that any entity manufacturing products on our behalf is able to comply with good manufacturing practices or satisfy certain regulatory inspections in connection with the manufacture of our proposed products will be limited. Failure or delay by any manufacturer of our products to comply with good manufacturing practices or similar regulations or satisfy regulatory inspections would have a material adverse effect on us.

We do not have the marketing expertise needed for the commercialization of our products

        Although we do not have any foreseeable need to market products because we are in the development stage, we do not currently have the resources to market the products that we may develop. Marketing of new products and processes presents greater risks than are posed by the continued marketing of proven products and processes. Accordingly, if we are able to develop any products with commercial potential, we would either have to develop a marketing capability (including a sales force) or attempt to enter into a joint venture, license, or other arrangement with third parties to provide a substantial portion of the financial and other resources needed to market such products. Our ability to develop such a marketing capability or negotiate favorable terms in connection with any such joint venture, license or other arrangement is untested.. Extensive licensing or joint venture agreements will also result in less income than if we marketed the products ourselves.

Our success is dependent upon our ability to enter into and subsequently successfully manage corporate collaborations with third parties in connection with services we will need for the development and commercialization of our products

        We currently do not have any active corporate collaborations. However, the success of our business strategy is largely dependent on our ability to enter into corporate collaborations for matters such as the development of, clinical testing of, seeking regulatory approval for and commercialization of our pharmaceutical products, and to effectively manage the relationships that may come to exist as a result of this strategy. Although we are currently seeking corporate collaborators, we may be unable to establish any such corporate collaborations on favorable terms, or at all. Even if we are successful in establishing such relationship, these collaborations may not result in the successful development of our products or the generation of significant revenues.

        Because we would enter into research and development collaborations at an early stage of product development, our success is highly reliant upon the performance of our future corporate collaborators, if any. The amount and timing of resources to be devoted to activities by corporate collaborators are not within our direct control and, as a result, we will be unable to ensure that our future or existing corporate collaborators will commit sufficient resources to our research and development projects or the commercialization of our products. Our corporate collaborators, if any, might not perform their obligations as expected and might pursue existing or other development-stage products or alternative

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technologies in preference to those being developed in collaboration with us. Disputes may arise with respect to ownership of technology developed under any such corporate collaborations.

        Because the success of our business is largely dependent upon our ability to enter into corporate collaborations and to effectively manage issues that arise from such collaborations, management of these relationships will require significant time and effort from our management team and effective allocation of our resources. Because we currently are not involved in any active collaboration, our ability to simultaneously manage a number of corporate collaborations is untested.

The manufacture of pharmaceutical products may expose us to product liability claims

        The products we will attempt to develop will, in most cases, undergo extensive clinical testing and will require Food and Drug Administration and Therapeutic Products Directorate approval prior to sale in the United States and Canada, respectively. However, despite all reasonable efforts to ensure safety, it is possible that products which are defective or to which patients react in an unexpected manner, or which are alleged to have side effects, will be sold. The sale of such products may expose us to potential liability resulting from the use of such products. Additionally, we may be exposed to product liability claims in the development of the products through administration of the drug candidates to volunteers and patients in clinical trials. Such liability might result from claims made directly by consumers or by pharmaceutical companies or others selling such products. It is impossible to predict the scope of injury or liability from such defects or unexpected reactions, or the impact on the market for such products of any allegations of these claims (even if unsupported), or the measure of damages which might be imposed as a result of any claims or the cost of defending such claims. Although our shareholders would not have personal liability for such damages, the expenses of litigation in connection with any such injuries or alleged injuries and the amount of any award imposed on us in excess of existing insurance coverage, if any, may have a material adverse impact on us. In addition, any liability that we may have as a result of the manufacture of any products could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and operations, to the extent insurance coverage for such liability is not available. At present, we have secured product liability coverage in an amount of U.S.$5 million per incident and U.S.$10 million annual aggregate for the Phase I and II clinical trials of RSD1235 and the Phase I and II clinical trials of CP1, a drug candidate for acute unproductive cough, one of our previous projects. Currently, we have no other product liability insurance. We anticipate that insurance equivalent to that customarily maintained by other entities in our industry and of our approximate size will be carried by us against such product liability claims in the future. However, obtaining insurance of all kinds has become increasingly more costly and difficult and as a result, such insurance may not be available at all, may not be available on commercial terms or, if obtained, may be insufficient to satisfy asserted claims.

We are subject to the risks associated with the use of hazardous materials in research and development conducted by us

        Our research and development may involve the controlled use of hazardous materials and chemicals. Examples of hazardous materials and chemicals used in our facilities are: acetopromazine, barium chloride and valproic acid. We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of such materials and certain waste products. Although we believe that safety procedures for handling and disposing of such materials will comply with the standards prescribed by federal, state, local and/or foreign regulations, the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials cannot be completely eliminated. In the event of such an accident, we could be held liable for any damages that result and any such liability could exceed our resources. We have secured a commercial general liability policy with coverage of up to Cdn.$2 million per occurrence and with an annual aggregate of Cdn.$2 million. We have also secured a blanket property insurance policy to cover up to Cdn.$8.15 million for costs related to

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accidental damage to our properties and interruption of our business. If we are required to institute additional safety procedures because we are found not to be in compliance or if more stringent or additional regulations are adopted, we may be required to incur significant costs to comply with environmental laws and regulations, which might have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations .

Our business may be materially adversely affected by the continuing efforts of governmental and third party payers to contain or reduce the costs of health care through various means

        In recent years, federal, state, provincial and local officials and legislators have proposed or are reportedly considering proposing a variety of price-based reforms to the healthcare systems in the United States and Canada. Some proposals include measures that would limit or eliminate payments for certain medical procedures and treatments or subject the pricing of pharmaceuticals to government control. Further, in certain foreign markets the pricing or profitability of healthcare products is subject to government control and other measures have been prepared by legislators and government officials. While we cannot predict whether any such legislative or regulatory proposals or reforms will be adopted, the adoption of any such proposals or reforms could adversely affect the commercial viability of our potential products. Significant changes in the healthcare system in the United States and Canada and abroad might have a substantial impact on the manner in which we conduct our business. Such changes also could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise capital. Moreover, our ability to commercialize products may be adversely affected to the extent that such proposals have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, in both the United States, Canada and elsewhere, sales of healthcare products are dependent in part on the availability of reimbursement to the consumer from third party payors, such as government and private insurance plans. Third party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and services, and therefore uncertainty exists as to the reimbursement of existing and newly approved healthcare products. If we succeed in bringing one or more products to market, there can be no assurance that these products will be considered cost effective and that reimbursement to the consumer will be available or will be sufficient to allow us to sell our products on a competitive basis. Finally, given the potential market constraints on pricing, the availability of competitive products in these markets may further limit our flexibility in pricing and in obtaining adequate reimbursement for its potential products. If adequate coverage and reimbursement levels are not provided by government and third party payors for uses of our products, the market acceptance of our products would be adversely affected.

Currency fluctuations may impact the value of our common shares

        Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, or TSE, in Canadian dollars. When the common shares become registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and in the event that our common shares become listed on a national securities exchange in the United States, the trading or listing price may be largely affected by the trading price of our common shares on the TSE. The future value of our common shares is subject to the volatility in the exchange rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar which can be affected by risks including but not limited to, differing economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures, myriad regulations and restrictions and general foreign exchange rate volatility. A decrease in the value of the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar could result in downward price pressure on the U.S. dollar value of our common shares that are traded or listed, if at all, on a national securities exchange on the United States.

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We may face exposure to adverse movements in foreign currency exchange rates when our products are commercialized, if at all

        We intend to generate revenue and expenses internationally which is likely to be denominated in Canadian and other foreign currencies. Our intended international business will be subject to risks typical of an international business, including but not limited to, differing tax structures, myriad regulations and restrictions, and general foreign exchange rate volatility. A decrease in the value of such foreign currencies relative to the Canadian dollar could result in downward price pressure for our products or losses from currency exchange rate fluctuations. To date we have not generated sufficient revenues to warrant the necessity of hedging against risks associated with foreign exchange rate exposure. Although we may do so in the future, we cannot be sure that any hedging techniques it may implement will be successful or that its business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows will not be materially adversely affected by exchange rate fluctuations.


ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUSINESS

        Since 1992, Cardiome has been involved in research and development of technology acquired from the University of British Columbia used to decrease the incidence of arrhythmia, which is an abnormal electrical signal in the heart, or an abnormal heart beat resulting from such a signal. Until 2001, Cardiome was also developing this technology for local anaesthetic and other uses. In addition, Cardiome acquired technology from Drs. Macleod and Quastel of the University of British Columbia in 1997 and carried out research and development of compounds for the treatment of pain (until early 1999) and cough (until late 2000) and did some initial pre-clinical work on a compound for erectile dysfunction (until early 2000). In August 1999, Cardiome closed a $5,100,000 private placement and in April 2000, closed a $7,800,000 private placement to Canadian institutional investors. In January 2001, the Company narrowed its focus to the cardiac area and during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Company allocated all of its research and development resources to its three projects relating to cardiac arrhythmia. In July 2001, the Company completed a Phase I clinical trial for RSD1235 and has recently completed Phase II trial of RSD1235. In October 2001, Cardiome closed a $1.1 million private placement to existing Canadian investors. In March 2002, the Company closed a concurrent public offering in Canada and private placement in the United States raising $30.9 million (the equivalent of approximately U.S. $19.5 million) and acquired Paralex by merger of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Cardiome, Inc. into Paralex. See "History and Development of the Company—Acquisition of Paralex".

INCORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

        The Company was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia) on December 12, 1986 under the name Nortran Resources Ltd. In June 1992 the Company changed the focus of its business from mining exploration to drug research and development and changed its name to Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc. In June 2001, the Company changed its name to Cardiome Pharma Corp. On March 8, 2002, the Company continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act. In this Annual Report, unless the context otherwise indicates, the terms "we," "us," "our," and similar terms as well as references to "Cardiome" or the "Company" refer to Cardiome Pharma Corp. together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Rhythm-Search Developments Ltd., a company incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia), Atriven Cardiology Corp. (formerly 3629490 Canada Inc.), a company incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act and Paralex, a corporation incorporated under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

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        The Company's head office is located at 3650 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6S 2L2, Canada. The address and the contact numbers of the registered office of the Company are as follows:1400 - 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6E 2E9, Canada; telephone number: (604) 688-6900 and fax number: (604) 443-7000.

ACQUISITION OF PARALEX

        On March 8, 2002, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Paralex, in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares of the Company. Also, on March 8, 2002, the Company completed a concurrent financing of $30.9 million (the equivalent of approximately U.S.$19.5 million) and issued 9,309,657 common shares along with warrants for the purchase of 2,327,414 common shares. Of the securities issued for the financing, 739,409 common shares were issued to investors in the United States in connection with an offering of our common shares along with warrants for the purchase of 184,854 common shares.

        Prior to the acquisition, Paralex was a private, New York based development-stage bio-pharmaceutical company incorporated in January 2001. Since that time, it had not conducted any significant business activities other than entering into license agreements with The John Hopkins University and ILEX Oncology, Inc. The license from The John Hopkins University, or JHU, is for certain intellectual property relating to the use of oxypurinol and other related compounds called xanthine oxidase inhibitors, or XO Inhibitors, for the treatment of congestive heart failure, other cardiovascular disorders and neuromuscular disease. The license from ILEX Oncology, Inc., or ILEX, is for rights to oxypurinol clinical data, drug supply and know-how and an option on rights to oxypurinol, for the treatment of gout, a metabolic disease. Oxypurinol has been studied in humans and is utilized in a compassionate use program for patients who are allergic to allopurinol, a conventional treatment for gout. See "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—JHU License" and "—ILEX License". Both of these licenses may allow the Company to potentially advance its XO Inhibitors for treatment of congestive heart failure directly into Phase II clinical development for congestive heart failure using oxypurinol, an agent that has extensive human clinical data for non-cardiovascular indications. Prior to the merger, Paralex did not have any research and development expenditures and had no employees.

        In connection with and as part of the acquisition of Paralex, on March 8, 2002, the Company effected a four-to-one share consolidation, or reverse stock split, resulting in its outstanding common shares being reduced from 113,172,393 to 28,293,098 and its fully diluted common shares being reduced from 136,370,232 to 34,092,558.

        Subsequent to the acquisition of Paralex, the Company reconstituted its board of directors. Mark Rogers, M.D., M.B.A., (newly elected Chairman of the Board), Myron Weisfeldt, M.D., Ralph Snyderman, M.D., Fred Mermelstein, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Rogers, M.D. joined previous board members Michael Walker, Ph.D. (founder and former Chairman of the Board), Robert Rieder (President and Chief Executive Officer), Alan Ezrin, Ph.D. (Chief Scientific Officer) and Kim Sun Oh. At our Annual and Special General Meeting held on May 27, 2002, Dr. Weisfeldt withdrew his nomination as a director.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

GENERAL

        Cardiome is a drug discovery and development company focused on developing proprietary drugs to treat or prevent cardiac diseases. Cardiome targets the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, which is an abnormal electrical signal in the heart, or an abnormal heart beat resulting from such a signal, through the use of atria-selective ion channel modulating drug candidates. Additionally, Cardiome targets the treatment of congestive heart failure, through the use of drugs known to inhibit the enzyme xanthine

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oxide, which is an enzyme that degrades a particular mammalian protein, xanthine oxidase, which is important to human heart function.

        Cardiome is currently focussing its efforts on three projects designed to prevent or treat cardiac arrhythmia and a fourth project designed to prevent or treat congestive heart failure. The RSD1235 project focuses on an atrial antiarrhythmic agent that is suitable for intravenous administration in a hospital setting and may be developed for chronic oral therapy. This project is currently in a Phase II clinical trial using intravenous administration to convert new onset atrial fibrillation patients to normal heart rhythm. The second drug candidate is RSD1122, an orally-active agent to treat arrhythmia in the ventricles of the heart, known as ventricular arrhythmia, or arrhythmia in the atria of the heart, known as atrial arrhythmia. Cardiome is currently evaluating whether or not to carry out and fund further research and development on this drug candidate. The Kv1.5 project is a discovery-stage project focused on discovering an agent that treats atrial arrhythmia by selectively blocking a specific ion channel found only in atrial cardiac tissue. Ion channels are specialized pores in the membrane of cells which assist in controlling and transferring electrical impulses, called action potentials, in cells. With respect to congestive heart failure, Cardiome may develop oxypurinol to determine if it is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The Company plans to file an investigational new drug application, or IND, with the FDA to begin a Phase II clinical trial on the oral application of oxypurinol to congestive heart failure by the second half of 2002. An IND must be submitted to the FDA and must become effective before human clinical trials commence. The Company plans to extend the Phase II clinical trial to include drug interaction as well as formulation development and toxicology testing and completion of a Phase I study on the intravenous application. In addition, the Company plans to exercise its option until December 2002 to acquire for US$250,000 the rights to clinical trial data for oxypurinol in the treatment of allopurinol intolerant hyperuricemia (gout).

Summary of Current Projects

        The following chart summarizes Cardiome's current projects, including the name of the product candidate or project, the therapeutic focus of the product and the stage of development of the product.

Product Candidate/Project

  Therapeutic Focus
  Stage of Development
RSD1235   Atrial Arrhythmia   Phase II clinical trial completed(1)
RSD1122   Atrial and Ventricular Arrhythmia   Pre-clinical(2)
Kv1.5   Atrial Arrhythmia   Pre-clinical(2)
Oxypurinol   Congestive Heart Failure   Preparation for Phase II clinical trial

(1)
Phase II clinical trials involve studies in a limited human population to determine the efficacy of the product for specific, targeted indications, determine optimal dosage and identify possible adverse effects and safety risks. See "Business Overview—Regulatory Environment". The Company commenced a Phase II clinical trial on the intravenous application of RSD1235 in December 2001. The Phase II clinical trials demonstrated that RSD1235 is effective in terminating atrial fibrillation and in converting atrial fibrillation to normal heart rhythm. Subject to the availability of sufficient financial resources, the Company plans to initiate a Phase I clinical trial on the oral application of RSD1235 by the second half of 2002. A Phase I trial is the initial introduction of a product into human subjects in which the compound is tested for safety, dosage, tolerance, metabolic interaction, distribution, excretion and pharmacodynamics.

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(2)
"Pre-clinical" includes pharmacological and efficacy testing in animals, toxicology testing and formulation work based on in-vitro results. After completing pre-clinical studies, the product must be taken through Phase I, II and III clinical trials before the Company (or its collaborative partner) can apply for regulatory approval to market the product. See "Business Overview—Regulatory Environment".

ANTIARRHYTHMIA PROJECTS

Antiarrhythmia Overview

        The heart is made up of four chambers, two on the left side (from the heart owner's perspective) and two on the right. The atria are the upper chambers of the heart. The ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart where the majority of the muscular pumping action of the heart takes place. The right side of the heart stores (right atria) and pumps (right ventricle) de-oxygenated blood to the lungs where it exchanges carbon dioxide for oxygen and returns to the left side of the heart. There, oxygenated blood moves from the left atria to the left ventricle where it is pumped through the aorta and circulated into the body. The pumping of the heart depends on the organized contraction of the atria and ventricles, each controlled by electrical impulses. The flow of these electrical impulses from cell to cell depends on the cell membrane's selective permeability to sodium, potassium or calcium ions via specialized pores, called ion channels, in the membrane of cells which assist in controlling and transferring electrical impulses, called action potentials, in cells. Arrhythmia results when cells lose the ability to correctly carry ions across the membranes causing a deviation from their normal sequence of initiation and conduction of electrical impulses and resulting in disturbances in heart rate and rhythm.

        Fibrillation arrhythmia describes a type of arrhythmia in which the heart chambers, instead of alternately contracting, quiver continuously in a chaotic pattern. There are two broad types of arrhythmia: atrial arrhythmia and ventricular arrhythmia. Atrial arrhythmias affect the upper chambers of the heart and are less directly life-threatening but more widespread than ventricular arrhythmias. Atrial arrhythmias require medical management to prevent further structural damage to the heart and are increasing in number with the population ageing. Ventricular arrhythmias affect the lower chambers of the heart and have immediate life-threatening implications whenever they occur. The Company's antiarrhythmic projects address both types.

Ventricular Arrhythmia

        Ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation are two types of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Ventricular tachycardia is an arrhythmia originating in the ventricles of the heart where aberrant electrical activity is triggering the heart to beat much too frequently; this often prevents proper blood circulation, resulting in fainting and possibly death. Ventricular fibrillation is a form of ventricular arrhythmia most often associated with Sudden Cardiac Death where the associated electrical activity results in a complete cessation of the pumping of blood by the heart. In humans, ventricular tachycardias are arrhythmia that originate in, and drive, the ventricles at rates above normal, and may be non-sustained, lasting a few seconds, or sustained, which may last for minutes or hours. During ventricular fibrillation the ventricles are unable to contract rhythmically and are unable to pump blood to the body. Ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation can reduce the heart's ability to maintain blood pressure; both conditions can cause death. Sudden Cardiac Death, or SCD, is the term applied to those patients who, during the onset of a heart attack, abruptly die due to the sudden onset of ventricular fibrillation.

        Ventricular arrhythmia is often caused by the occurrence of ischemia during a heart attack. Ischemia is the deficiency of oxygenated blood in a part of a body, usually due to functional constriction or actual obstruction of a blood vessel. Ischemia causes misfiring of ion channels which leads to the generation of aberrant electrical signals that interfere with the normal electrical signal that

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controls the operation of the heart. While ischemic tissue, which is tissue where blood supply is inadequate for its requirements for oxygen, nutrients and removal of metabolic by-products, from a heart attack may only develop in a portion of the heart, the electrical effect can be profound in that the disruption of the electrical signal caused in this area may disrupt the electrical impulse for the entire heart. See Figure 1. Such a malfunction may result in SCD.

GRAPHIC   GRAPHIC

Normal Heart

 

Ischemic Heart

Figure 1.

Normal electrical conduction in the heart vis-à-vis conduction in ischemic tissue

        Most drugs currently used to prevent arrhythmia following heart attacks, or myocardial infarctions have effects on the entire heart muscle, including both healthy and damaged tissue. Drugs that globally block ion channels in the heart have been associated with life-threatening side-effect arrhythmias, including one form called torsades de points, which is only found in conjunction with such ion-channel modulating drugs.

        In contrast to currently available antiarrhythmic drugs, some of Cardiome's antiarrhythmic drug candidates are designed to be active in the specific tissue that mediates cardiac arrhythmia, leaving the remaining cardiac tissue relatively unaffected. Instead of having activity throughout the heart, Cardiome's ventricular drug candidates (such as RSD1122) are designed to be activated by the conditions found in ischemic ventricular heart tissue, and preferentially block ion channels in such ischemic tissue. These compounds are designed to have much less activity in the healthy tissue and consequently should be safer than existing drugs. Cardiome's atrial arrhythmia drugs are similarly designed to be active in atrial tissue and relatively less active in normal ventricular tissue.

Atrial Fibrillation Antiarrhythmia

        Atrial fibrillation, the most common chronic arrhythmia, is a condition affecting the upper chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia in which the atria, instead of intermittently contracting, quivers continuously in a chaotic pattern, causing totally irregular, often rapid ventricular rate. The condition is characterized by rapid, chaotic beating that is either temporary or permanent. This condition is common but, unlike ventricular arrhythmias, is not acutely life-threatening. The main danger from such arrhythmias is that they may cause stroke or if prolonged may lead to heart failure. Over 6,000,000 individuals in the developed world suffer occasionally or chronically from atrial arrhythmias.

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        Current drugs used to treat atrial fibrillation suffer from the same issues that limit the usefulness of current ventricular antiarrhythmic drugs: limited efficacy combined with life-threatening side effects. Unlike current drugs used to treat atrial arrhythmia, Cardiome's drug candidates for atrial fibrillation selectively target those ion channels that are uniquely important for such atrial arrhythmias. Blockade of these channels with the Company's atrial fibrillation drug candidates has been shown in pre-clinical studies to effectively terminate atrial fibrillation. Pre-clinical studies show that Cardiome's clinical candidates appear to target these channels which mediate atrial arrhythmia without disrupting potassium channels that control normal functioning of the middle layer of heart wall composed of cardiac muscle, or the ventricular myocardium. Based on these results, the Company's management expects that its clinical candidates will display a superior cardiovascular safety profile compared with other available and emerging therapies.

        The Company has successfully developed two antiarrhythmic clinical candidates, RSD1235 and RSD1122 and intends to expand its drug candidate pipeline through its Kv1.5 project.

Ion Channel Focus

        Cardiome's research and development strategy in the arrhythmia area is mainly based upon the utilization of its expertise in the field of ion channels. Cardiome focuses on the development of drugs that will modulate the activity of ion channels in a way that cures or ameliorates the impact of a particular cardiac pathology.

        Ion channels are cell membrane spanning proteins that permit the movement of selected ions through the channel when it is in an open state. The molecular structure of the ion channel protein determines whether the channel is in one of three states; rested (closed but able to be opened by a stimulus), activated (open), or inactivated (closed and unable to be opened by a stimulus).

        Cardiome's cardiac arrhythmia drugs are developed to target these ion channels and modulate their activity by either blocking or controlling the flow of ions through these pores. See Figure 2.

Ion channel   Ion channel

Closed

 

Open
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

Figure 2.

Voltage-gated ion channel showing structure

        The surface of each living cell is covered with a number of these molecular structures called "ion channels". More than 50 different ion channels have been identified in the scientific literature. These channels relate mainly to the flow of sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions into and out of the body's various types of cells. The firing of these ion channels is a very basic part of all animal physiology, mediating all muscular activities and all neuronal activity. Currently, many important drugs mediate ion channel activity, either directly by blocking the firing of specific channels or indirectly by interacting with receptors or enzymes upstream of the ion channels. An example of an ion channel

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modulator used therapeutically is the commonly-used dental anesthetic, Lidocaine, which prevents pain by temporarily blocking the firing of sodium ion channels.

        In arrhythmia, ion channels in the heart open too frequently resulting in fibrillation. Cardiome's arrhythmia drug candidates (RSD1235, RSD1122 and any Kv1.5 candidate) target abnormally active sodium and potassium ion channels in order to stop and prevent future occurrences of arrhythmia. Many of the currently approved ion channel drugs have a tendency to block these channels in both the atria and ventricles for too long a period of time. It is believed that blocking of ventricular ion channels can cause a second form of drug-induced arrhythmia that may result in Sudden Cardiac Death. Cardiome's drug candidates avoid the key ion channels of the healthy ventricles avoiding the negative side effect of depressing the electrical and mechanical activity of the heart thereby eliminating the serious side effects of drug-induced arrhythmia seen with currently used antiarrhythmic drugs.

RSD1235 Project

        RSD1235 was developed specifically to treat atrial arrhythmia. The drug has been shown to be a safe and effective antiarrhythmic in various animal studies modeling an arrhythmia condition. That safety and efficacy profile is believed to result from the drug's atria selective mechanism of action. Animal studies indicate that the drug exhibits a much stronger impact on the electrical activity of the atria of the heart than on the ventricles. This may make it an effective and potentially safer atrial antiarrhythmic drug than existing and near term competition in this field. Clinical data suggests that RSD1235 is rapidly cleared from the body after intravenous dosing which may make it an ideal therapy for emergency intravenous use in hospital. RSD1235 is designed to have fewer side effects than currently utilized intravenous antiarrhythmic drugs. Recent pre-clinical studies have confirmed that RSD1235 also has significant oral bioavailability in animals.

        Cardiome completed its Phase I clinical trial of the intravenous application of RSD1235 in July 2001. The Phase I clinical trial examined the safety and metabolism of RSD1235 in humans. Cardiome completed its Phase II clinical trial on the intravenous application of RSD1235 in September 2002. The Phase II clinical trial demonstrated that RSD1235 is effective in terminating atrial fibrillation and in converting atrial fibrillation to normal heart rhythm. This Phase II trial was initiated in December 2001 and the total cost of the Phase II trial is estimated to be $2,300,000.

        The Company continues to evaluate several strategic options with respect to the further clinical development of RSD1235. Upon successful completion of Phase II clinical trials, the Company will initiate a Phase I clinical trial on the oral application of RSD1235. This Phase I trial is anticipated to commence by the second half of 2002 at an estimated cost of $800,000. The Company plans to manufacture additional RSD1235 drug supplies, at an estimated cost of $400,000, to provide for additional formulation development and stability testing. This spending may be increased to $1,200,000 to provide for GMP quantities for Phase I oral clinical development and further intravenous clinical development.

RSD1122 Project

        RSD1122 is a mixed ion channel blocker, which was developed as an ischemia-selective ventricular antiarrhythmic drug, and has been shown to be a safe and effective antifibrillatory in animal studies modeling various arrhythmia conditions. Pre-clinical data suggests RSD1122 may be suitable for oral dosing, which may make it appropriate for daily long-term therapy in patients at risk of arrhythmia. In October 2000, Cardiome entered into a license agreement with AstraZeneca AB, or AstraZeneca, for the development and marketing of RSD1122. This agreement will be terminated as of June 2002 and AstraZeneca will return all rights and pre-clinical data associated with RSD1122 as Cardiome has received notice from AstraZeneca that it does not intend to proceed with the clinical development of RSD1122. Cardiome intends to evaluate the AstraZeneca pre-clinical data and, following consultation

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with its board of directors and scientific advisory board, decide whether or not to carry out and fund future research and development on this drug candidate. See "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—AstraZeneca License".

Kv1.5 Project

        The Kv1.5 Project is aimed exclusively at atrial arrhythmia. Recent research has shown that the Kv1.5 potassium channels are located in the atrial but not ventricular chambers of the heart. The Kv1.5 channel is known to be important to the early-repolarising currents that mediate atrial electrical activity. Because this channel is exclusive to the atria and important to atrial pacing, it may make an ideal target for an atrial arrhythmia drug. Cardiome is using cloned Kv1.5 potassium channels from human sourced tissue to design drugs to selectively block the Kv1.5 channel. The administration of such an atria-selective drug is expected to be safer than that of existing drugs for atrial arrhythmia, which produce unwanted action in the ventricles. Recent Cardiome data has confirmed the ability of these drugs to modify the electrical activity of human cardiac tissue studied in the laboratory. It is expected Cardiome will select a Kv1.5 clinical candidate in 2002.

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE PROJECT

Congestive Heart Failure Overview

        Congestive heart failure is the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient for the metabolizing tissue. During congestive heart failure, the cardiac output decreases resulting in, among other things, an increase in venous fluid volume. It is characterized by fatigue, shortness of breath and fluid retention. It generally occurs when the left ventricle pumping capability begins to fail. Fluid begins to pool in the lungs leading to congestion which, in turn, causes breathing difficulty and swelling in the lungs. When the right ventricle is directly affected, blood begins to collect in the body's extremities resulting in swelling. In most cases, congestive heart failure is a progressive condition. The ventricular muscle over-stretches resulting in continued reduction in cardiac output, further exacerbating the condition. Current methods of treating heart failure involve one or a combination of decreasing blood pressure, removing water from the body and increasing the force of heart contraction.

        A number of medicines are used to increase the contraction of the heart. Unfortunately, most of these medicines are "contractility agents"; that is, they increase the contraction of the heart while simultaneously accelerating the heart's consumption of oxygen. This increased oxygen consumption can be a serious problem as many, if not most, of these patients have coronary artery disease which limits blood and oxygen supply to the heart. Thus, although such medicines may make the patient feel better initially, they may not increase life expectancy. In fact, current medicines that increase cardiac contractility, primarily inotropes such as dobutamine and dopamine, may actually decrease life expectancy.

        At JHU, Dr. Eduardo Marbán's research has demonstrated that the class of agents known as xanthine oxidase inhibitors, or XO Inhibitors, (which includes oxypurinol) has the ability to increase the contraction strength of the heart in patients with congestive heart failure without increasing the oxygen consumed by the heart to the extent caused by other medicines. See "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—JHU License" and "—Marbán Agreement". In studies conducted at JHU, Dr. Marbán has shown these effects in both animals and in humans during cardiac catheterization. Accordingly, such XO Inhibitors may offer the possibility of a new mode of therapy for patients with congestive heart failure. The intellectual property encompassing Dr. Marbán's research, acquired by Paralex pursuant to the JHU License, relates not only to oxypurinol but also to any XO Inhibitor used in the treatment of congestive heart failure or other cardiovascular disorders. Cardiome believes that XO Inhibitors, including oxypurinol, have significant potential in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

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Oxypurinol Congestive Heart Failure Project

        The oxypurinol project will target both acute and chronic therapy for patients with congestive heart failure. The Company believes that the FDA will approve oxypurinol for advancement into a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of congestive heart failure because there are extensive data supporting its safety profile. These data are comprised of: (1) a 72-patient U.S. clinical trial in allopurinol intolerant gout patients, (2) a 340-patient compassionate use program in allopurinol intolerant gout patients, (3) several clinician-sponsored clinical trials of allopurinol applied to various cardiovascular diseases and conditions, (4) a 99-patient safety and pharmacokinetic study in hyperuricemia patients in comparison to allopurinol, and (5) three decades of chronic use of allopurinol in millions of patients suffering from gout.

        ILEX has undertaken clinical development of oxypurinol in gout patients who are intolerant of allopurinol. See "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—ILEX License". These patients have no other treatment option for the hyperuricemia that underlies their gout symptoms. In the clinical study, it was found that 70% of the allopurinol intolerant gout patients who received oxypurinol had no dose-limiting side effects and appeared to receive benefit (lower uric acid levels) from their use of the drug.

        A compassionate-use program has been underway applying oxypurinol to allopurinol intolerant gout patients for more than 10 years. More than 340 patients have been chronically treated. The program has shown that more than 70% of allopurinol intolerant patients respond well to oxypurinol.

        Several small-scale clinician-sponsored prospective clinical trials have been carried out over the years applying allopurinol to various cardiovascular diseases and conditions, including congestive heart failure. No significant dose-limiting toxicities were reported in these trials, most of which were of short duration. Since oxypurinol is the primary metabolite of allopurinol, and is believed to be responsible for much of its biological activity on the xanthine oxidase pathway, this data adds strength to the assertion that oxypurinol is appropriate for immediate testing in patients with congestive heart failure.

        Finally, the chronic use of allopurinol as a routine treatment for gout for several decades in millions of patients speaks strongly to the safety of oxypurinol in chronic use. Since allopurinol largely metabolizes to oxypurinol, and since oxypurinol has a half-life (17 hours) approximately fivefold longer than allopurinol (three hours), it is reasonable to conclude that oxypurinol accounts for much of the biological activity of allopurinol and, therefore, has a similar safety profile.

        A recently-published retrospective cohort study explores the impact of allopurinol on congestive heart failure in hyperuricemic patients. The study suggests that congestive heart failure patients who are hyperuricemic have higher morbidity and mortality than non-hyperuricemic patients, and that both parameters are partially ameliorated by high-dose allopurinol.

        Taken together, Cardiome believes that the aforementioned evidence will provide a strong case for taking oxypurinol forward into Phase II clinical testing in congestive heart failure patients.

        Allopurinol has been shown to improve the efficiency of the muscular tissue of the heart, or myocardial efficiency by sensitizing the cardiac muscle cells to calcium ions. These cells can contract more strongly without a comparable increase in oxygen demand thereby improving functional efficiency. This characteristic compares favourably with current congestive heart failure therapeutic drugs that typically improve cardiac output at the cost of increased oxygen demand that, in effect, accelerates the underlying congestive heart failure disease. Inhibition of xanthine oxidase, an enzyme that degrades a particular mammalian protein, xanthine oxide, which is important to human heart function, may serve as a new pharmacological approach to the treatment of congestive heart failure. The Phase II clinical trial, planned for initiation in the second half of 2002 and estimated to cost $4,000,000, would represent the first prospective clinical trial of oxypurinol in congestive heart failure. The Company anticipates the completion of this trial by the end of 2003. The Company plans to proceed with a drug interaction study on the Phase II oral application, anticipated to cost approximately $2,000,000. The Company also plans to begin formulation development and toxicology testing on the intravenous application of oxypurinol to acute congestive heart failure in the second half of 2002 with a Phase I safety study in the first half of 2003. The estimated cost of the formulation, toxicology and safety study is estimated at approximately $1,700,000 with results expected by the end of 2003.

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Other Opportunities

Hyperuricemia (Gout)

        Pursuant to the ILEX License, Cardiome has also obtained an option, until December 2002, to acquire for U.S.$250,000 the rights to clinical trial data for oxypurinol in the treatment of allopurinol intolerant hyperuricemia (gout). Cardiome plans to exercise that option. ILEX is currently testing oxypurinol in a pivotal, open-label Phase II/III clinical study for the treatment of patients with symptomatic hyperuricemia (gout) who are intolerant to allopurinol.

Business Strategy

        Cardiome's business strategy is based around several important principles that guide the Company's activities.

Core Expertise

        Cardiome focuses on drugs that treat cardiac diseases and conditions. By focusing its efforts in this way, Cardiome has been able to assemble teams of employees and external advisors with strong knowledge and understanding of cardiology. This collective knowledge, experience and expertise helps ensure that the novel ideas pursued are of a high caliber and are therefore more likely to result in a drug which impacts a specific disease state.

Discovery and Development

        Cardiome undertakes both discovery and development activities in order to create novel drug candidates and to then demonstrate their applicability in human patients. This mixture of efforts supports partnership activities and enables Cardiome to pursue internally generated discovery projects, acquire projects that dovetail with the cardiac focus as well as in-licensed later-stage projects.

Multiple Projects

        A central principle of Cardiome's business strategy is to minimize the risk inherent in early stage drug discovery. See "Risk Factors" under "Item 3. Key Information". Cardiome emphasizes a portfolio approach to risk diversification as the Company has drug candidates: (1) within multiple independent cardiac projects (currently arrhythmia and congestive heart failure), (2) at various stages of development (pre-Clinical to Phase II), and (3) within their clinical projects that have two potential methods of dosage (intravenous for acute therapy and oral for chronic therapy).

External Resources

        Cardiome operates as a "semi-virtual" research organization, intending to reduce internal operating expenses to allow Cardiome flexibility as well as maintain a low level of operating losses. The Company maintains a small, core team of scientists and staff with the necessary skill base, and contracts out the specialized work required for its projects, such as pre-clinical toxicology services and contract manufacturing.

Collaboration Strategy

        Cardiome's core of expertise lies in the ability of its personnel to research and develop potential drug candidates into the clinical development stage. As part of its business strategy, Cardiome may seek collaborative partners with experience in the late-stage development and marketing of drugs in the relevant therapeutic areas. The intention is to select partners with both the human and financial resources to spearhead the late-stage clinical development of the Company's product candidates based

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on requirements by the FDA in the United States, the TPD in Canada as well as other drug regulatory agencies in other countries.

        The Company presently has no plans for developing an in-house marketing or manufacturing capability.

POTENTIAL MARKETS

        Cardiome focuses on developing proprietary drugs to treat or prevent cardiac diseases. Cardiome's projects are in relatively early stages of development. Products that may result from the Company's research and development projects are not expected to be commercially available for a number of years, if at all. See "Risk Factors" under "Item 3. Key Information". The Company has no developed or approved products. Therefore, any discussion of a market for Cardiome's products is of a very preliminary nature.

        The broad category of cardiovascular disease, includes congestive heart failure, stroke, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias and more. The market for cardiovascular disease represents the largest drug market based on total worldwide sales of approximately U.S.$64 billion in 1998. As the general population ages, the incidence of cardiovascular disease will increase significantly. There will be an estimated 50% increase in the number of Canadians diagnosed with heart disease and stroke over the next 25 years. This demand will far surpass existing healthcare resources and facilities.

        The next decade will be the critical time frame in which to anticipate and manage the impact of cardiovascular disease on healthcare systems. In this endeavor, doctors are expected to look to pharmaceutical companies for therapies and treatments.

Antiarrhythmic Drug Market

        The current antiarrhythmic drug market includes several drugs to treat the various types of arrhythmia. Although the number of antiarrhythmic drugs has grown in the past few decades, they have very undesirable characteristics. The older Class I drugs carry the risk of increased mortality and the more potent Class III drugs such as amiodarone can be toxic to the lungs and other organs. Prescribing patterns are currently dominated by drugs to treat one type of arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation. The worldwide market for all prescribed drugs to manage arrhythmias, excluding anticoagulants, totaled U.S.$1.4 billion in 1999, with pharmaceuticals to treat atrial fibrillation arrhythmias representing approximately U.S.$1.1 billion of that total. Approximately U.S.$800 million of the U.S.$1.1 billion was in the United States alone.

        With respect to ventricular arrhythmia, it is estimated that 295,000 people die in the United States annually from Sudden Cardiac Death due to the condition. Cost estimates for pharmaceuticals to treat ventricular arrhythmia approach U.S.$350 million worldwide, approximately U.S.$160 million of that is attributable to the U.S. alone.

        While antiarrhythmic drug sales are already substantial, there still remains a major unmet market need for safe antiarrhythmics. As indicated above, current drugs for treating arrhythmia have serious side effects that limit their use. In fact, a study indicates that one of the commonly prescribed antiarrhythmics actually increases mortality rates in patient groups to which it is administered. Other studies, SWORD and meta analysis for example, have shown other drugs to be pro-arrhythmic.

        Ageing populations in major markets worldwide, and the increasing pharmacotherapy needs that will accompany them, will contribute to growth significantly beyond levels indicated above. One forecast for the next five to ten years is an annual growth rate in total pharmaceutical sales in the four percent range. The key driver for sales is not, however, the annual growth of the market but its absolute size. Given the serious side effects of antiarrhythmic drugs currently on the market, a product that is both

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safe and effective would provide for significant market penetration into what is one of the largest pharmaceutical target markets known today.

Congestive Heart Failure Market

        Congestive heart failure is the only significant cardiovascular disorder to show a marked increase in incidence over the past 40 years. Approximately 4,700,000 persons in the United States suffer from congestive heart failure, while the developed world total is estimated at approximately 10,000,000. The American Heart Association reported that the number of hospital discharges in the United States rose from 377,000 in 1979 to 874,000 in 1994 with an associated direct and indirect cost of U.S.$18.8 billion in 1997. The incidence of newly diagnosed congestive heart failure cases exceeds 3,600,000 each year. It is the number one cause of hospitalization in the United States in patients over 65 years of age. The prognosis for congestive heart failure in terms of mortality is poor and the disease is now characterized in the United States as "epidemic". The mortality rate is comparable to the worst forms of cancer—experts indicate that 20% of patients die within three months and almost 33% of patients die within one year with a 70% mortality by year five. The current cost of pharmaceuticals to treat congestive heart failure is in excess of U.S.$1.5 billion worldwide, just under U.S.$1 billion of that cost is in the United States alone.

        Congestive heart failure sales will be driven by two factors: introduction of new, more effective drug compounds and the ageing population. One forecast expects major market sales of congestive heart failure drugs will increase 4% per annum over the next four years, accelerating to 9% per annum over the ensuing five years. Within two years, the major market sales for congestive heart failure drugs is forecast to be U.S.$1.9 billion, rising to U.S.$2.9 billion within 7 years.

COMPETITION

        The pharmaceutical and related biotechnology industries are characterized by extensive research efforts, rapid technology change and intense competition. See "Risk Factors—Substantial Competition" under "Item 3. Key Information". Competition in the biopharmaceutical industry is based primarily on product performance, including efficacy, safety, ease of use and adaptability to various modes of administration, patient compliance, price, acceptance by physicians, marketing, and distribution. Barriers to entry into the market include the availability of patent protection in the United States and other jurisdictions of commercial interest and the ability and time needed and cost required to obtain governmental approval for testing, manufacturing and marketing.

Antiarrhythmia Drug Market

        The Company is aware of a number of companies engaged in the development of drugs in the cardiac arrhythmia therapeutic area. Additionally, there are a significant number of other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing and/or marketing ion channel focused therapeutics. Some of these companies have substantially more financial and technical resources, more extensive research and development capabilities, products at a later stage of development, and greater marketing, distribution, production and human resources than the Company.

        However, there are many serious cardiovascular diseases for which existing therapies are inadequate. One of the key inadequacies of many drugs is safety. Cardiome seeks to develop atria-selective ion channel-modulating drugs to overcome this inadequacy as it has found that these drugs are safer than existing therapies in initial animal studies. Cardiome's competitive advantage lies in its experience in the fields of ion channels, pathology of arrhythmias, toxicology and pharmacology, which is the science that deals with the origin, nature, chemistry, effects, and uses of drugs, and its ability to develop relevant in vitro and in vivo models for specific pathologies.

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        There is extensive competition within the areas of antiarrhythmic drugs from existing therapies and therapies under development. In 1999, worldwide sales of pharmaceuticals to treat atrial arrhythmias were approximately U.S.$1.1 billion. The largest class in antiarrhythmic drug sales are Class I drugs (1999 sales of U.S.$303 million) which block sodium channels in cardiac cells. Class I drug examples are Rhythmol, Tambocor and Quinaglute. Class II drugs (U.S.$133 million) consist of beta blockers such as Inderol. Class III drugs (U.S.$281 million) are potassium-channel blockers such as Cordarone and Betapace. Class IV drugs (U.S.$255 million) are calcium-channel blockers such as Cardizem.

Congestive Heart Failure Market

        The Company believes that oxypurinol, as a treatment for congestive heart failure, will be the first drug of its kind in connection with the treatment of congestive heart failure. To date, digoxin is the only known approved drug able to increase myocardial contractility with minimal increases in cardiac oxygen demand. Given that digoxin has a limited therapeutic index, which is the experimental index of the relative safety of a compound, it must be closely monitored with regular blood tests to avert the possibility of side effects that may include cardiac arrhythmia, which is often fatal. Other inotropic agents such as dopamine and dobutamine also increase myocardial contractility, but also have narrow therapeutic indices, thus minimizing their utility in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

        The current standard of care for congestive heart failure consists primarily of diuretics, digoxin, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE-inhibitors and in some cases, a beta blocker. However, treatment options for this complicated disease may employ various combinations of the following:

    1.
    Diuretics such as furosemide and spironolactone that remove excess fluid and decrease the workload of the heart and improve symptoms and survival.

    2.
    Cardiac glycosides, like digoxin, that increase contractility of the heart and provide an improved neuro-hormonal environment thereby reducing the workload on the heart, improving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations.

    3.
    Vasodilators like the nitrates, ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II inhibitors, and calcium channel antagonists that reduce the workload of the heart, reduce blood pressure, improve coronary blood flow, improve symptoms and, in some studies like those with ACE-inhibitors, improve survival.

    4.
    Alpha and beta adrenergic blockers, like doxazosin and carvedilol, reduce physiologic stressors, reduce the heart rate and allow the heart to function more efficiently and effectively and in the case of beta blockers, may increase survival.

    5.
    Inotropic agents like dopamine and dobutamine are used in very severe cases to increase the contractility of the heart and improve its output.

PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY PROTECTION

        Cardiome considers its patent portfolio as one of the key value contributors to its business; therefore, the Company devotes a substantial amount of resources each year to maintaining and augmenting its patent portfolio. The Company's patent strategy is to pursue the broadest possible patent protection on its proprietary products and technology in selected jurisdictions. Accordingly, for novel compounds, claims for the compound, composition and use will be made and for known compounds, claims directed to novel composition and/or use will be made in the patent application. The Company plans to protect its technology, inventions and improvements to its inventions by filing patent applications in selected key countries according to industry standard in a timely fashion.

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        In addition to its patents, Cardiome also relies upon trade secrets, know-how and continuing technological innovations to develop its competitive position. It is Cardiome's policy to require its directors, employees, consultants, members of its scientific advisory board and parties to collaborative agreements to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of employment, consulting or collaborative relationships with the Company. In the case of employees and consultants, the agreements provide that all inventions resulting from work performed for the Company utilizing property of Cardiome or relating to the Company's business and conceived of or completed by the individual during employment are the exclusive property of the Company to the extent permitted by law.

        As of March 31, 2002, the Company holds rights to 122 patents and patent applications in the United States and other jurisdictions in respect of certain core technologies utilized by the Company. To date, 18 patents have been issued in the United States and other jurisdictions. Given that the patent applications for these technologies involve complex legal, scientific and factual questions, there can be no assurance that patent applications relating to technology used by the Company will result in patents being issued or that, if issued, the patents will provide a competitive advantage or will afford protection against competitors with similar technology, or will not be challenged successfully or circumvented by competitors.

        The Company is required to pay milestone payments and royalties for the 21 patents or patent applications licensed from, or for which Cardiome has been granted commercial rights by, the University of British Columbia and JHU. Of these patents or patent applications, 17 have been licensed under the UBC License described below under "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—UBC License and UBC Research Agreement" and four have been licensed under the JHU License. See "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—JHU License". The Company has no royalty obligations associated with any of the remaining of 101 patents or patent applications in its portfolio.

REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

        The research and development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products are subject to regulation for safety and efficacy. Drug licensing laws require licensing of manufacturing facilities, carefully controlled research and testing of products, governmental review and approval of results prior to marketing of therapeutic products, and adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices during production. In the United States, these activities are subject to rigorous regulation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and in Canada, these activities are regulated by the Food and Drug Act (Canada) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, which are enforced by the Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate, or TPD.

        The success of the Company is ultimately dependent on obtaining marketing approval for drugs currently under development and will depend on its ability to comply with worldwide regulations governing the manufacturing, quality control, pre-clinical evaluation, and clinical testing of investigational new drugs. Depending upon the circumstances surrounding the clinical evaluation of a product, the Company may undertake clinical trials, contract clinical trial activities to contract research organizations or rely upon corporate partners for such development. This approach will allow the Company to make cost effective developmental decisions in a timely fashion. See "Business Overview—Business Strategy—Collaboration Strategy" and "Risk Factors" under "Item 3. Key Information".

        The principal activities that must be completed after initial research and before obtaining approval for marketing in Canada and the United States are as follows:

    1.
    pre-clinical studies, which includes pharmacological and efficacy testing in animals, toxicology testing and formulation work based on in vitro results, performed to assess the safety and potential efficacy of the product;

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    2.
    submission of an investigational new drug, or IND, application, which must become effective before human clinical trials commence;

    3.
    Phase I clinical trials, the initial introduction of the product into human subjects, under which the compound is tested for safety, dosage, tolerance, metabolic interaction, distribution, excretion and pharmacodynamics;

    4.
    Phase II clinical trials involving studies in a limited patient population to: (1) determine the efficacy of the product for specific, targeted indications, (2) determine optimal dosage, and (3) identify possible adverse effects and safety risks;

    5.
    Phase III clinical trials which are undertaken to further evaluate clinical efficacy of the product and to further test for its safety within an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical study sites;

    6.
    the submission of a New Drug Application, or NDA, to the government authorities in the United States, or a new drug submission, or NDS, in Canada; and

    7.
    FDA approval of an NDA and TPD approval of an NDS prior to any commercial sale or shipment of the product, including pre-approval and post-approval inspections of its manufacturing facilities.

        Two key factors influencing the rate of progression of clinical trials are the rate at which patients are available to participate in the research project and whether effective treatments are currently available for the disease that the drug is intended to treat.

        An IND must be filed and accepted by the TPD or FDA, as applicable, before each phase of human clinical trials may begin. The IND application must contain specified information including the results of the pre-clinical studies or clinical tests completed at the time of the IND application. In addition, since the method of manufacture may affect the safety and efficacy of a drug, information on manufacturing methods and standards and the stability of the drug substance and the dosage form must be presented so that the TPD or FDA can ensure that the product that may eventually be sold to the public has the same composition as that determined to be effective and safe in the clinical trials. Production methods and quality control procedures must be in place to ensure a relatively pure compound, essentially free of contamination and uniform with respect to all quality aspects.

        Upon completion of all clinical studies the results are submitted to the TPD as part of a Canadian NDS or to the FDA as part of a Product License Application or NDA to obtain approval to commence marketing the product. In addition, an establishment license application must be filed and approved by the FDA or TPD for the production of a product and test sites must demonstrate that Good Laboratory Practices and Good Clinical Practices have been maintained during pre-clinical and clinical evaluation. The Company may partner later stage development of its drug candidates with companies that have experience in manufacturing in accordance with Good Laboratory Practices and Good Clinical Practices.

        Even after marketing approval for a drug has been obtained, further studies may be required (sometimes called Phase IV studies). Post-market studies may provide additional data on safety and efficacy necessary to gain approval for the use of a product as a treatment for clinical indications other than those for which the product was initially tested and approved.

        The research and development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products are subject to regulation in the United States by the FDA, in Canada by the TPD and by comparable authorities in other foreign countries. These national agencies and other federal, state, provincial and local entities will regulate the testing, manufacture, safety and promotion of any products that may be developed.

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LICENSES AND COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AGREEMENTS

        Cardiome and its subsidiaries are parties to the following licenses and collaborative research agreements:

UBC License and UBC Research Agreement

        By agreement dated February 12, 1992, the Company acquired an option from the University of British Columbia, or UBC, to license the inventions which underlie some of the Company's novel antiarrhythmic compounds. These compounds form the basis of part of the Company's research and development efforts, being certain technology relating to aminocyclohexylamides for antiarrhythmic and local anaesthetic uses, which is referred to as the Technology. On March 29, 1996, the Company entered into a formal license agreement with UBC, or the UBC License, whereby UBC granted the Company, in consideration for the sum of $20,000 (paid) and the issuance of 25,000 common shares (issued), an exclusive, world-wide license to use and, subject to the consent of UBC, sublicense the Technology, and any improvements thereto, for antiarrhythmic and local anaesthetic uses, and to manufacture, distribute and sell products derived therefrom to the general public during the term of the UBC License. The UBC License will terminate upon the expiration of the last patent obtained under it.

        Under the terms of the UBC License, the Company has agreed to issue to UBC a further 25,000 common shares within 30 days of the commencement of Phase III clinical trials and an additional 25,000 common shares within 30 days of receipt of notice of new drug approval for the first drug covered by a patent of the Technology. The Company is also required to pay to UBC quarterly royalties from manufacturing revenues ranging from 1.5% for products developed from improvements to the Technology made by the Company to 3.5% for products developed from the Technology or improvements to the Technology made by UBC or UBC and the Company together, and further royalties from sublicensing revenues, subject to minimum annual royalties of $10,000 in the first two years of commercial sale and $50,000 thereafter. In addition, the Company will pay all costs associated with patent applications.

        The Company is required to pay UBC a $75,000 grant in each of the first five years of the UBC License (as at November 30, 2001, all fully paid), to be used at UBC's discretion to fund basic scientific research related to some aspects of the Technology to be undertaken by UBC in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Walker or his successor. The Company does not have any rights in any intellectual property arising from such research.

        In addition, the Company and UBC have entered into a five year research agreement, or the UBC Research Agreement, dated March 1, 1997, under which the Company is required to fund a specific and mutually agreed upon research project with respect to the Technology by paying to UBC a further $75,000 plus a further sum equal to 38% of overhead costs associated with the project, estimated at $28,500, in each of the first five years of the UBC Research Agreement (as at November 30, 2001, all fully paid). Under the UBC Research Agreement, the Company has an option to license, on an exclusive worldwide basis, any intellectual property arising from the work at UBC under the UBC Research Agreement.

        The UBC License and the UBC Research Agreement constituted arm's length transactions. The consideration payable under both agreements was determined through negotiations between the Company and UBC.

JHU License

        Pursuant to an agreement dated April 18, 2001, as amended by agreement dated October 18, 2001 between the Company and JHU, the JHU License, the Company has obtained the exclusive worldwide

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rights to U.S. patent application Serial No. 09/186,755 (which subsequently matured into U.S. Patent No. 6,191,136 B1) and Patent Cooperation Treaty application PCT US98/23878, each filed on November 5, 1998 and European Patent Office application filed August 2, 2000 all of which were assigned to JHU and entitled "Methods for Treatment of Disorders of Cardiac Contractility", and which are referred to as the Patent Rights. The Patent Rights relate to the therapeutic, diagnostic and commercial use of XO Inhibitors for cardiovascular and neuromuscular disease, which is referred to as the Licensed Field. The Company also obtained the exclusive option to any and all technologies developed by JHU in the Licensed Field of which Eduardo Marbán, M.D. is the inventor.

        In consideration for the JHU License, Cardiome has paid JHU an initial license fee of U.S.$50,000. In addition, Cardiome is obligated to pay a royalty to JHU on net sales of any product developed by Paralex with the Patent Rights. If a product developed by Cardiome contains both the Patent Rights and other active ingredients, the royalty rate may be reduced, subject to a minimum royalty rate. Cardiome's royalty payment obligation will terminate upon expiration of the Patent Rights. Further, the annual royalties are subject to certain annual minimum royalties which increase annually for the first six years that such royalties are payable.

        As additional consideration for the JHU License, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Paralex previously issued (i) 390,000 shares of its common stock to JHU and (ii) 210,000 shares of its common stock to Dr. Marbán for a purchase price of $0.001 per share. These shares of Paralex have now been exchanged for common shares of the Company pursuant to the acquisition completed on March 8, 2002. Cardiome must reimburse JHU up to U.S.$67,500 for all costs associated with the preparation, filing, maintenance and prosecution of the Patent Rights and certain legal fees.

ILEX License

        Pursuant to a license agreement dated December 19, 2001, or the ILEX License, between the Company and ILEX Oncology, Inc., or ILEX, ILEX granted the Company an exclusive worldwide sublicense to all of ILEX's rights under a license agreement dated March 31, 1995, between ILEX on the one hand, and Burroughs Wellcome Co. and The Wellcome Foundation, Ltd., collectively referred to as BW, on the other, as amended, which is referred to as the Original License Agreement, in the field of the treatment of hyperuricemia (gout) in humans who are intolerant of allopurinol. Under the Original License Agreement, BW had granted an exclusive license to ILEX in BW's know-how regarding, among other things, the manufacture and use of oxypurinol in that field. Under the ILEX License, ILEX also granted the Company an exclusive worldwide license, in that field, in ILEX's know-how concerning manufacture and certain uses of oxypurinol and in ILEX's oxypurinol IND, to make, have made, use, offer to sell and sell products comprising or containing oxypurinol, including an exclusive license in the ILEX trademark "OXYPRIM" for use in connection with sales efforts concerning relevant products. ILEX further granted the Company an option until December 2002 to purchase for U.S.$250,000 certain clinical trial data ILEX has and may acquire in the future, to evaluate the usage of oxypurinol in hyperuricemic patients intolerant to allopurinol. The Company plans to exercise that option. The Company also obtained the right to grant sublicenses in the above, subject to ILEX approval.

        Under the ILEX License, the Company agreed to pay ILEX upon execution, an initial fee of U.S.$250,000 (which has been paid by Paralex). The Company also agreed to pay BW a U.S.$200,000 milestone payment (upon FDA approval of an NDA incorporating oxypurinol) and royalties based on net sales of relevant products (subject to certain conditions), all as would otherwise be required of ILEX under the Original License Agreement. In addition, the Company agreed to perform ILEX's obligations under the Original License Agreement concerning a compassionate use program regarding relevant products. Further, the Company agreed to pay certain milestone payments to ILEX tied to the regulatory approval process. The Company also agreed to pay royalties to ILEX based on net sales of

36



relevant products, subject to certain conditions. Finally, the Company agreed to reimburse ILEX for certain expenses, and to purchase certain supplies from ILEX.

        The term of the ILEX License extends until the expiration of ILEX's obligation to pay royalties under the Original License Agreement (determined on a country-by-country basis), at which time the rights licensed or sublicensed to the Company convert to a fully paid, non-exclusive, irrevocable royalty-free license or sublicense. The ILEX License purports to provide each party with the right to terminate based on certain insolvency events of the other, or if the other's breach continues after notice and beyond defined cure periods. It also provides the Company with the right to terminate upon termination of the Original License Agreement.

Marbán Agreement

        Pursuant to an agreement entered into in May 2001 and effective as of January 1, 2002, or the Marbán Agreement, between the Company and Cardiosciences Consulting, Inc. ("CCI"), a private company owned by Dr. Eduardo Marbán, CCI agreed to cause Dr. Eduardo Marbán, the inventor of the technology licensed under the JHU License, to provide advisory services to the Company with regard to therapeutic applications of XO Inhibitors, for up to twelve days per year. The Marbán Agreement states that materials, including inventions, prepared by or furnished to CCI or Dr. Marbán as a direct result of performing services under the Marbán Agreement will be owned exclusively by Paralex. Various obligations owed to the Company under the Marbán Agreement are expressly made subject to policies of and obligations owed by CCI and Dr. Marbán to JHU.

        The Company agreed to pay CCI U.S.$100,000 per year for Dr. Marbán's services under the Marbán Agreement, plus reimbursement of certain expenses. To date, the Company has paid Dr. Marbán U.S.$25,000 under the Marbán Agreement.

        The Marbán Agreement has a term of four years. It contains no provision concerning any renewal of that term. The Marbán Agreement also provides that it will automatically terminate in the event Dr. Marbán is no longer available to render and is not rendering services thereunder, due to his obligations to JHU, his physical or mental disability, or his death.

Antalium Collaborative Research and License Agreement

        The Company entered into a collaborative research and license agreement with Antalium Inc., or Antalium, on November 30, 2000, for the worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of certain nociblocker compounds developed by the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, Antalium has a right to select certain compound(s) from a group of test compounds delivered by the Company on or before May 31, 2002. As of the date of this Annual Report, Antalium has not selected any test compounds. Antalium agreed to pay the Company milestone payments and royalties based on future net sales for those compounds selected for further development. The license agreement will terminate if certain development milestones are not met. Unless otherwise terminated, the agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last issued patent. Antalium also agreed to provide screening and other tests on research compounds for the Company's cough project.

MacLeod and Quastel Agreement

        By agreement dated November 19, 1997 entered into between the Company and Drs. MacLeod and Quastel, the Company acquired ownership to certain intellectual property related to nociblocker technology and all their therapeutic uses. The agreement provides that the Company will pay to each of Drs. MacLeod and Quastel $25,000 in each of the first five years as a University grant-in-aid, commencing April 1, 1997 (as at November 30, 2001, all fully paid). The Company is also required to pay to each of Drs. MacLeod and Quastel $250,000 upon commencement of Phase III clinical trials on a nociblocker compound licensed to the Company under the agreement, and a further $1,000,000 upon

37



the filing of a new drug application in the United States or Canada for a nociblocker compound licensed by the Company under the agreement. The agreement further requires the Company to spend a minimum of $200,000 each year for five years on the research and development of drugs using nociblocker technology, which includes expenditures under the cough project and nociblocker project (as at November 30, 2001, minimum financial commitment satisfied). The Company does not currently devote any resources to research on the nociblocker or cough projects, other than to fulfill its minimum obligation under the agreement and to maintain patents.

        The consideration payable under the agreement was determined by arm's length negotiations between the Company and Drs. MacLeod and Quastel.

AstraZeneca License

        Cardiome entered into a license agreement dated October 16, 2000 with AstraZeneca A.B, or AstraZeneca. Under the terms of the license agreement, or AstraZeneca License, Cardiome granted AstraZeneca an exclusive worldwide license to develop and market an antiarrhythmic compound, RSD1122, developed by the Company, in exchange for initial, milestone, and royalty payments. AstraZeneca assumed responsibility for all costs for the development and marketing of RSD1122. The AstraZeneca License would be terminated if certain development milestones were not met or after appropriate notice was given by AstraZeneca.

        On March 28, 2002 Cardiome announced that it had received a notice from AstraZeneca that AstraZeneca does not intend to proceed with clinical development of RSD1122. In accordance with the AstraZeneca License, AstraZeneca will return all rights and pre-clinical data associated with RSD1122 in June 2002 and the AstraZeneca License will terminate. Cardiome intends to evaluate the AstraZeneca pre-clinical data and, following consultation with its board of directors and scientific advisory board, decide whether or not to carry out and fund future research and development on this drug candidate.

FACILITIES

        The Company currently leases 10,030 square feet of office and laboratory space for research, development and administrative purposes in Vancouver, British Columbia. The premises are located on the UBC Endowment Lands. The term of the lease is 24 months ending on March 31, 2004. The Company may, at its option, extend the term of the lease for an additional two 24-month periods. Annual lease payments were $237,000 per annum until June 30, 2000, $254,000 per annum until March 31, 2002 and are currently $261,000 per annum.

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ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes therein, which are prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. These accounting principles differ in certain respects from U.S. GAAP. The differences as they affect the consolidated financial statements of the Company are described in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements.

        Since its reorganization in 1992 as a drug research and development company, Cardiome has devoted its resources primarily to fund its research and development programs. The Company's business is still at an early stage of development and has been unprofitable. The Company expects to incur additional losses for the next several years as it invests in product research and development, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, and regulatory compliance. During the years ended November 30, 2001, November 30, 2000 and November 30, 1999, the Company incurred $5,498,838, $4,732,656 and $3,585,593, respectively, on research and development. The Company believes research and development costs will continue to increase in proportionate share to its overall budget as Cardiome moves its lead compounds in antiarrythmics toward and through clinical trials.

        The Company does not anticipate revenues from product sales in the foreseeable future. Over the next several years, the Company expects to derive its sources of funding from interest income and equity financing and, to the extent negotiated, licensing and collaborative research agreements. All or a portion of the payments that may be received under these agreements will likely be conditional on Cardiome achieving certain development milestones.

CHANGE IN CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        The following critical accounting policies involve significant judgments and estimates that are used in the preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

        The Company records research collaborative fees, which are non-refundable, as revenue as the related research expenses are incurred pursuant to the terms of the agreement and provided collectibility is reasonably assured. Option fees, related to the payment for the right to license and/or test the Company's compounds, are recognized when the Company has fulfilled the obligation in accordance with the provisions of the contractual arrangement. Licensing fees comprise initial fees and milestone payments derived from collaborative licensing arrangements. When the Company has no further involvement or obligation to perform under the arrangement and the related costs and effort are considered substantial, non-refundable milestone payments are recognized upon the achievement of the specified milestones. Otherwise, non-refundable milestone payments and initial fees are deferred and amortized into revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant license or related underlying product development of ten years.

        Effective June 1, 2001, the Company adopted a new accounting policy for recognizing license fees to be consistent with U.S. GAAP, as clarified by Staff Accounting Bulletin 101 ("SAB 101") Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, which was issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in December 1999. License fees, which consist of initial upfront fees and milestone payments are deferred and amortized into revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant license or related underlying product development period if the Company has future involvement or obligation to perform under the arrangement. Previously, the Company recognized upfront license fees and

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milestone payments as earned in accordance with the terms of the related agreement which was generally the period the payment was received.

Research and Development Expenses

        Research costs are expensed in the year incurred. Development costs are expensed in the year incurred unless the Company believes a development project meets generally accepted accounting criteria for deferral and amortization.

Technology, License and Patent Costs

        The fair value of the technology acquired by the Company has been recorded as other assets. Technology and licenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of ten years.

        The Company capitalizes patent costs associated with the preparation, filing, and obtaining of patents. The cost of the patents is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the patents of ten years.

        The amounts shown for technology, license and patent costs do not necessarily reflect present or future values and the ultimate amount recoverable will be dependent upon the successful development and commercialization of products based on these rights. If management determines that such costs exceed estimated net recoverable value, based on estimated future cash flows, the excess of such costs are charged to operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Year ended November 30, 2001 (fiscal 2001) Compared with the Year ended November 30, 2000 (fiscal 2000)

        The Company incurred a net loss of $7,157,885 ($0.69 per share) in fiscal 2001 as compared to $6,495,636 ($0.69 per share) in fiscal 2000.

        Revenue for fiscal 2001 decreased to $632,243 as compared to $723,352 for fiscal 2000. The decrease in revenue in 2001 was due to the decline of grant income and interest income. Research collaborative, licensing and options fees increased by $104,933 as compared to fiscal 2000. The additional revenue from collaborative research revenue was offset by a decline of $47,226 in grant income and a decline of $148,816 in interest and other income. The amortization of licensing revenue from the initial payment by AstraZeneca accounted for a significant portion of the increase in research collaborative, licensing and option fees. The decrease of grant income was due to the lower grant payments from the Science Council of BC as this one-year grant ended in April 2001. The decrease in interest resulted from a lower average cash balance during fiscal 2001 as compared to the fiscal 2000. See "—Liquidity and Capital Resources". We currently have no other collaborative or licensing agreement with any third party and do not anticipate any other licensing revenue or sales of products for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2002. Research and development expenses for fiscal 2001 increased to $5,498,838 as compared to $4,732,656 for fiscal 2000. The increase in research and development expenditures was primarily due to the cost associated with increased operational activities as the Company completed a Phase I clinical trial and initiated a Phase II clinical trial for its lead compound, RSD1235, and progressed in its Kv1.5 project, and enhanced its research and development capabilities. See "Business Overview—Antiarrhythmia Projects". The increase was also due to the cost associated with some pre-clinical work conducted in support of the Company's licensing activities for its Cough project. Approximately 90% of the research and development expense for fiscal 2001 was attributable to the cost associated with the antiarrhyhmia projects, while the remaining 11% was attributable to the cost associated with the Company's non-cardiovascular projects, as compared to 77% and 23% respectively for fiscal 2000. We expect higher levels of research expenditure for the fiscal year

40



ending November 30, 2002 as compared to those incurred in fiscal 2001. A significant portion of the research and development expenditure will be incurred for the full patient enrolment in the Phase II clinical trial of RSD1235, in research activities related to the Kv 1.5 program, the initiation of clinical trial of the newly acquired congestive heart failure program, and the maintenance of the gout program. The clinical results of our RSD1235 Phase II trial are expected by the second half of 2002 and the total cost of this Phase II trial is estimated at $2,300,000 of which $1,968,000 will be incurred in fiscal 2002. Further clinical developments of RSD1235 will be subject to a successful Phase II trial. We intend to select a Kv 1.5 clinical candidate in 2002 and expect to incur higher research cost associated with the pre-clinical studies as compared to those incurred in fiscal 2001. See "Business Overview—Antiarrhythmia Projects". The Phase II clinical study of our Oxypurinol congestive heart failure project is estimated to cost $4,000,000 and is planned for initiation in second half of 2002 and completion by the end of 2003. We also plan to begin formulation development and toxicology testing on the intravenous application of oxypurinol to acute congestive heart failure in the second half of 2002 with a Phase I study in the first half of 2003. The estimated cost of the formulation, toxicology and safety study is estimated at $1,700,000 with results expected by the end of 2003. See "Business Overview —Oxypurinol Congestive Heart Failure Project". General and administration expenses for fiscal 2001 increased to $1,741,193 as compared to $1,569,044 for fiscal 2000. The increase was primarily due to the cost associated with added personnel and increased investor relations activities. We expect higher levels of general administration expenditure to support the increased business activities for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2002 as compared to those incurred in fiscal 2001.

Year ended November 30, 2000 (fiscal 2000) Compared with the Year ended November 30, 1999 (fiscal 1999)

        The Company incurred a consolidated net loss of $6,495,636 ($0.69 per share) in fiscal 2000 as compared to $4,451,320 ($0.66 per share) in fiscal 1999.

        Revenue for fiscal 2000 decreased to $723,352 as compared to $787,081 for fiscal 1999. The decrease in revenue for fiscal 2000 was due to the decline in licensing and option fees of $390,781 compared to fiscal 1999; this decrease was offset by the additional grant income of $89,553 collected mainly from Science Council of BC and the increase of $237,499 in interest and other income. The increase in interest resulted from a higher average cash balance during fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999.

        Research and development expenses increased to $4,732,656 in fiscal 2000 as compared to $3,585,593 in fiscal 1999. The increase was primarily due to the cost associated with the expansion of research activities arising from clinical trials and other research initiatives, resulting in an increase in research and development contract costs, consulting, laboratory supplies and related expenses. Research and development activities in fiscal 2000 included a Phase II clinical trial of the Company's CP1 drug candidate for non-productive cough, and pre-clinical studies of RSD1235, RSD1122, and the Kv1.5 project. Approximately 77% of the research and development expense for fiscal 2000 was attributable to the cost associated with the antiarrhyhmia projects, while the remaining 23% was attributable to the cost associated with the Company's non-cardiovascular projects, as compared to 57% and 43% respectively for fiscal 1999.

        General and administration expenses increased to $1,569,044 in fiscal 2000 as compared to $997,890 in fiscal 1999. The increase in general and administration expenses was primarily due to higher consulting and professional fees, regulatory fees and travel and accommodation expenses resulting from the Company's listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the closing of the AstraZeneca licensing deal.

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Year ended November 30, 1999 (fiscal 1999) Compared with the Year ended November 30, 1998 (fiscal 1998)

        The Company incurred a consolidated net loss of $4,451,320 ($0.66 per share) in fiscal 1999 as compared to $5,168,419 ($0.82 per share) in fiscal 1998.

        Revenue for fiscal 1999 increased to $787,081 as compared to $553,287 for fiscal 1998. The increase in revenue for fiscal 1999 was primarily due to the additional revenue of $254,109 generated from collaborative agreements and $41,576 of grant income compared to fiscal 1998; these increases were offset by a decline in interest and other income of $61,891.

        Research and development expenses increased to $3,585,593 in fiscal 1999 as compared to $3,498,787 in fiscal 1998. The slight increase of research and development was primarily due to the expansion of the Company's research team and facilities for additional in house pre-clinical studies. Research and development activities in fiscal 1999 included Phase I clinical trial of the Company's CP1, drug candidate for non-productive cough, and pre-clinical studies of the cough and antiarrhythmic research programs. Approximately 57% of the research and development expense for fiscal 1999 was attributable to the cost associated with the antiarrhyhmia projects, while the remaining 43% was attributable to the cost associated with the Company's non-cardiovascular projects, as compared to 54% and 46% respectively for fiscal 1998.

        General and administration expenses decreased to $997,890 in fiscal 1999 as compared to $1,553,337 in fiscal 1998. The decrease in general administration expenses was primarily due to the lower consulting and professional fees, and travel and accommodation expenses.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

        Since its change of business to pharmaceutical research and development in 1992, the Company has financed its operations through equity financing, research fees, government grants and tax credits. In fiscal 2001, the Company received a net proceeds of $966,000 from the sale of special warrants. In fiscal 2000 the Company received $7,348,434 in net proceeds from the sale of equity securities, $509,995 upon exercise of warrants, and $151,190 upon exercise of options. On a prospective basis, the Company intends to meet its financial requirements through such means as strategic alliances with multinational drug companies, and a combination of private and public equity financings.

        At November 30, 2001, the Company's cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments aggregated $4,183,580 as compared to $10,219,140 at November 30, 2000. The Company invests its cash reserves in highly liquid, highly rated financial instruments such as treasury bills, commercial papers and banker's acceptances. The Company's working capital at November 30, 2001 was $3,523,091 as compared to $9,519,044 at November 30, 2000.

        Subsequent to the year ended November 30, 2001, the Company received additional capital resources to fund its ongoing operation through equity financing. On March 8, 2002, the Company successfully completed a public offering of 9,309,657 units of the Company at a price of $3.32 per unit for gross proceeds of $30,908,061. Each unit consists of one common share in the capital of the Company and one quarter of one common share purchase warrant of the Company. One whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at any time on or before March 8, 2004 at a price of $6.64 per share. In connection with the offering, the Company paid a cash commission of $2,163,564 and issued brokers' warrants to purchase 930,966 units (exercisable on or before March 8, 2004 for 930,966 common shares and warrants to purchase an additional 232,742 common shares at an exercise price of $6.64 per share) at a price of $3.80 per unit to the agents of the offering.

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        In addition, on March 8, 2002, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Paralex, in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares of the Company. The Company plans to use part of the proceeds from the public offering completed on March 8, 2002, to finance the research operations of Paralex for the next two years.

        The Company's proposed products are currently in the research and development stage and no revenues have been generated to date from product sales, nor does the Company expect to generate any product revenues in the foreseeable future. Most of the pre-clinical research and clinical development work and testing for our product candidates remains to be completed. Accordingly, it remains uncertain as to whether our research and development efforts will be successful. As a result, the Company expects that reliance on equity financing will continue during pre-clinical development and through the early clinical stages of development. The longer-term sustainability of the Company is expected to be achieved through collaborative and licensing arrangements and the creation, development and ultimate licensing or sale of intellectual property. As much as possible, the licensing or sale of intellectual property will be carried out so as to ensure an appropriate balance between future earnings potential and current liquidity. Although we are currently seeking corporate collaborators, we may be unable to establish any such corporate collaborations on favorable terms, or at all. Even if we are successful in establishing such relationship, these collaborations may not result in the successful development of our products or the generation of significant revenues.

        As a result of receiving additional equity financing on March 8, 2002, the Company believes that it has sufficient resources to fund operations in the next two years. However, the Company's future cash requirements may vary materially from those now expected due to a number of factors, including the progress of clinical trials, progress in product development and changes in the focus and direction of the Company's product development projects. The Company will continue to rely on outside sources of financing to meet its capital needs beyond the next two years. However, there can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. The Company believes that there are significant risks and uncertainties associated with its clinical trials and product development activities. An unexpected delay or other unfavourable development involving any of its primary projects could materially and adversely effect the Company's ability to enter into strategic alliances, license or sell it intellectual property and/or raise additional equity from outside sources. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate financing, it will be necessary for the Company to delay, curtail or cancel further development of some or all of its technologies and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. See "Risk Factors" under "Item 3. Key Information".


ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        Immediately following the acquisition of Paralex on March 8, 2002, Cardiome reconstituted its Board of Directors. Mark Rogers, M.D. (newly elected Chairman of the Board), Myron Weisfeldt, M.D., Ralph Snyderman, M.D., Fred Mermelstein, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Rogers, M.D. joined previous board members Michael Walker, Ph.D. (founder and former Chairman of the Board), Robert Rieder (President and Chief Executive Officer), Alan Ezrin, Ph.D. (Chief Scientific Officer) and Kim Sun Oh. At our Annual and Special General Meeting held on May 27, 2002, Dr. Weisfeldt withdrew his nomination as a director. On January 6, 2003, Cardiome announced the appointment of Douglas Janzen to the position of Chief Financial Officer and the promotion of Christina Yip to Vice President of Finance and Administration.

        All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company or until they resign or are removed from office in accordance with the Company's articles and by-laws and the Canada Business Corporations Act.

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        Directors and executive officers of the Company (after giving effect to the appointments described above), their position and the period during which each has served as a director or officer are as follows:

Name

  Position
  Period Served
Mark Rogers   Director
Chairman of the Board
  since 2002
since 2002

Robert W. Rieder

 

Director
President, Chief Executive Officer

 

since 1997
since 1998

Alan M. Ezrin

 

Director, Chief Scientific Officer

 

since 2001

Michael J. A. Walker

 

Director

 

since 1992

Kim Sun Oh

 

Director

 

since 1997

Fred Mermelstein

 

Director

 

since 2002

Elizabeth Rogers

 

Director

 

since 2002

Ralph Snyderman

 

Director

 

since 2002

Gregory N. Beatch

 

Vice President, External Scientific Affairs

 

since 1997

Douglas Janzen

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

since 2003

Christina Yip

 

Assistant Corporate Secretary
Vice President of Finance and Administration

 

since 2002
since 2003

        The following are short biographies of the directors and executive officers of the Company:

Mark C. Rogers, M.D., M.B.A.—Chairman and Director

        Dr. Mark Rogers has been Chairman of the Board and a director of the Company since March 2002. He is the President of Paramount Capital, Inc. ("Paramount") and Paramount Capital Investments, LLC ("PCI"), a biotechnology, biomedical and biopharmaceutical merchant banking firm, and the President of Paramount Capital Asset Management, Inc. ("PCAM"). PCAM serves as the general partner and/or investment manager of the Aries and Abington group of funds. Dr. Rogers is also a member of Orion Biomedical GP, LLC, which serves as the general partner to The Orion BioMedical Funds ("Orion"), which are closed-end, private equity funds focused in the biomedical sector. In addition, Dr. Rogers also serves as a director of Genta Incorporated (Nasdaq NM: GNTA), a company specializing in anti-sense drugs for cancer, as well as several public and privately held corporations. Dr. Rogers has also been appointed as advisor to the New York City Biotechnology Emerging Industries Fund.

        Dr. Rogers is a physician trained in four medical specialties, including cardiology. He was appointed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at JHU, is the author of 150 publications and 11 books and is a member of the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine.

        While at JHU, Dr. Rogers was made Associate Dean, managing the clinical enterprises of the medical school and was involved in the formation of a number of biomedical companies now listed on NASDAQ. He subsequently became CEO of the Duke Hospital and Health Network. Dr. Rogers was then recruited to the Perkin-Elmer Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange company specializing in analytical instruments, especially DNA sequencers, as Senior Vice President for Mergers and

44



Acquisitions. He was involved in the restructuring of that business (now named Applera Corporation "(Applera")), which ultimately led to the creation of the Celera Genomics Group of Applera, the company that sequenced the human genome and is listed on the NYSE.

        At Paramount, Dr. Rogers has been involved in the creation and growth of several start-up companies, including PolaRx BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. ("PolaRx") and Innovative Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. ("IDDS"). Dr. Rogers served as Chairman of the Board of PolaRx, which had acquired the rights to arsenic trioxide for the treatment of Acute Promyelocyric Leukemia ("APL"). Following NDA submission, PolaRx was sold to Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: CTIC).

        Dr. Rogers received his M.D. from Upstate Medical Center and his M.B.A. from The Wharton School of Business. He received his B.A. from Columbia University and held a Fulbright Scholarship. Dr. Rogers is married to Dr. Elizabeth Rogers who is also a director of the Company. Dr. Rogers is a member and Chair of both the Compensation Committee and Nomination Committee of the Company.

Robert W. Rieder, M.B.A.—President, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Director

        Mr. Rieder has been a director since April 1997, and has been employed by the Company on a full-time basis as its President and CEO since April 1998. Mr. Rieder has extensive experience in venture capital and in operational management. He was most recently (1994 to 1998) Vice-President at MDS Ventures Pacific Inc., the Vancouver-based affiliate of MDS Capital Corp. Mr. Rieder was Chief Operating Officer for dba Telecom Inc. in 1994, and was a director of SFG Technology Inc., both Vancouver-based technology companies. Mr. Rieder currently serves as a director of Micrologix Biotech Inc. and Synapse Technologies Inc. Mr. Rieder received his MBA from the University of Western Ontario. Mr. Rieder is a member of the Nomination Committee of the Company.

Alan M. Ezrin, Ph.D.—Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Director

        Dr. Ezrin has been a director and the Company's CSO since January 2001. Dr. Ezrin has extensive research and development and business experience in both the large pharmaceutical industry and in the biotechnology sector in the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Ezrin was with Sterling-Winthrop Research Group from 1982 to 1993. In 1993, Dr. Ezrin joined Glycomed Inc. as Assistant Vice-President of Development focusing on carbohydrate-based therapeutics. Following the successful merger of Glycomed into Ligand Therapeutics, he joined RedCell Inc. as Vice-President of Development in 1995. In 1997, he led the restructuring of RedCell through creating ConjuChem Inc. in Montreal. At ConjuChem, Dr. Ezrin was acting Chief Executive Officer and then Chief Scientific Officer. Under his leadership, ConjuChem completed several pharmaceutical partnerships, positioned two new drugs in clinical trials and extended the patent portfolio, resulting in a publicly traded, product driven company. Dr. Ezrin received his Ph.D. in Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular Pharmacology from the University of Miami School of Medicine. Dr. Ezrin is a member of the Nomination Committee of the Company.

Michael J.A. Walker, Ph.D.—Director

        Dr. Walker was the Chairman of the Board from January 16, 1996 to March 11, 2002 and has been a director of the Company since February 12, 1992. Dr. Walker devotes approximately 20% of his time towards the scientific direction and general corporate development of the Company. Dr. Walker has been a Professor of Pharmacology in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC since 1986. He graduated with a specialized degree in pharmacology at the University of London, trained in industrial pharmacology at Pfizer, UK, and has held teaching positions in Europe, Asia and Africa. Dr. Walker is also the President and a director of Rhythm-Search. Dr. Walker is a member and Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Company.

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Kim Sun Oh, C.P.A.—Director

        Mr. Oh was appointed to the Company's Board of Directors in November, 1997 upon the closing of a private placement with the Chemical Company of Malaysia Berhad (CCM), as required by the terms of CCM's subscription agreement. Mr. Oh is the Group Executive Director of the CCM Group. Mr. Oh, a Malaysian certified public accountant, orchestrated the management buy-out of CCM from Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. where he had held various senior executive positions for several years. Mr. Oh currently serves as a director of IMPAX Laboratories Inc., a public company listed on NASDAQ and Immune Network Ltd., a public company traded over the NASD OTC Bulletin Board. Mr. Oh is a member and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Company.

Fred H. Mermelstein, Ph.D.—Director

        Dr. Mermelstein serves as Director of Venture Capital at Paramount Capital Investments, LLC., where he has been involved in the founding of a number of biotechnology start-up companies, including PolaRx and IDDS. He has served as Director and Chief Scientific Officer of PolaRx and President of both Androgenics Technologies, Inc. ("Androgenics") and IDDS. He serves on the Board of Directors of a research foundation, the Jordan Heart Foundation. Dr. Mermelstein is also a member of Orion. Dr. Mermelstein is the author of 14 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, three patents, and recipient of several research grants from both the U.S. Army and National Institutes of Health ("NIH"). Most recently, Dr. Mermelstein has been selected as advisor to both the New York Emerging Industries Fund and Technology Transfer Fund of the New York Economic Development Organization. Dr. Mermelstein received a Ph.D. joint degree in both pharmacology and toxicology at Rutgers University and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School ("UMDNJ-RWJ"). He completed his post-doctoral training in transcription/gene regulation as a research fellow of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute located in the Department of Biochemistry at UMDNJ-RWJ. Dr. Mermelstein is a member of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Company.

Elizabeth Rogers, M.D.—Director

        Dr. Elizabeth Rogers received her B.A. Degree from Mt. Holyoke College in 1967 and her M.D. degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 1971 and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Geriatrics. Dr. Rogers trained in Internal Medicine at Duke University Medical Center and in Geriatrics at JHU prior to joining the faculty at University of Maryland at Baltimore in 1992 where she became Professor of Medicine. In 1993, Dr. Rogers became Associate Dean of Clinical Science at Duke University Medical Center and, in 1999, became Chief of Staff at Veteran's Administration Hospital, an affiliated program of Yale University Medical School where she was responsible for the coordination of all medical activities. For the past year, Dr. Rogers has been a clinical consultant to the New York City Emerging Industries Fund and a medical consultant to Innovative Drug Delivery Systems, Inc. Dr. Rogers is married to Dr. Mark Rogers, Chairman of the Board and a director of the Company. Dr. Rogers is a member of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Company.

Ralph Snyderman, Director

        Dr. Snyderman currently serves as President and CEO of the Duke University Health System based in North Carolina. He plays a leadership role in the Association of American Physicians, the Institute of Medicine and the Association of American Medical Colleges ("AAMC") that represents all U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals. He currently serves as Chair of the AAMC.

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        In 1987, Dr. Snyderman joined Genentech, the pioneering biomedical technology firm, as Vice President of Medical Research and Development and a member of their senior leadership team. A year later, he was promoted to Senior Vice President. While at Genentech, he led the development and licensing of several novel therapeutics and supervised approximately 300 staff members working in pharmacology, clinical research and regulatory affairs.

        A graduate of Washington College in Chestertown, Md. (1961), Snyderman received his M.D., magna cum laude, in 1965 from the Downstate Medical Center of the State University of New York. He served his internship and residency in medicine at Duke and later worked as a Public Health Officer doing research in immunology at the NIH (1967-72). Dr. Snyderman received his first faculty appointment at Duke in 1972 where he rose rapidly through Duke's academic ranks, becoming Chief of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunobiology. By 1984, Snyderman was also the Frederic M. Hanes Professor of Medicine and Immunology. Following his career at Genentech, he returned to Duke as the James B. Duke Professor of Medicine in 1989 and Executive Dean since 1999. He has written nearly 350 manuscripts as well as numerous books.

        Dr. Snyderman is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee of the Company.

Gregory N. Beatch, Ph.D.—Vice President External Scientific Affairs

        Dr. Beatch has been Vice President, Research since June 1997 and was re-titled Vice President, External Scientific Affairs on July 20, 2001. Dr. Beatch joined the Company in September 1996 as Head of Pharmacology on a one year renewable exchange program from the TPD, the equivalent of the U.S. FDA.. Dr. Beatch was a Research Scientist for the Drugs Directorate of the TPD. In this capacity, Dr. Beatch was involved in the new drug submission and approval process. Dr. Beatch also holds Assistant Professorships in Cardiology and Pharmacology, at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Dr. Beatch has published numerous papers proceeding from peer reviewed grants in the field of cardiovascular drug research.

Richard P. Schwarz, Jr., PhD,—Executive Director, Congestive Heart Failure Program

        Dr. Schwarz joined Cardiome in January 2002 to manage the pre-clinical and clinical development activities related to Cardiome's programs in the congestive heart failure area on a consultancy basis. Dr. Schwarz served previously as Executive Director, Cardiovascular Therapeutics, at Quintiles, Inc. He has 24 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry and in government service. Dr. Schwarz held the position of Deputy Chief, Cardiology Program, at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute from 1979-1982, and served as Global Director of the Cardiovascular Clinical Development Program at the Sterling Research Group, Sterling Drug, Inc. He has also served as Senior Director, Clinical Development at Astra USA and as Vice President, Clinical Development and Regulatory Affairs at Texas Biotechnology Corporation. Dr. Schwarz has planned and directed numerous clinical programs in cardiovascular development, including studies of inotropic agents and neurohormonal modulators in congestive heart failure, and studies of thrombin inhibitors, IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and thrombolytic agents in acute coronary syndromes. He led the research team that developed the injectable inotropic agent, PRIMACOR (milrinone), for the acute treatment of congestive heart failure. His bibliography lists over 50 publications and two books.

Douglas Janzen—Chief Financial Officer

        Mr. Janzen joined Cardiome in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer in January 2003. Mr. Janzen has extensive experience in corporate banking and financing for Canadian Biotechnology companies. From 2001 to 2002, Mr. Janzen was Managing Director—Health Sciences and Partner at Sprott Securities Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Janzen spent three years in corporate banking with Loewen Ondaatie McCutcheon Limited. Mr. Janzen received a Physiology Degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Biochemistry Master Degree from the University of British Columbia.

47


Christina Yip, CMA—Assistant Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Finance & Administration

        Ms. Yip has been Vice President of Finance & Administration of the Company since January 6, 2003 and Assistant Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors since May 17, 2002. Ms. Yip joined the Company as Financial Controller in September 1998and was appointed as Director of Finance & Administration in September 2002. Ms. Yip also acted as Acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company from December 23, 2000 to January 5, 2003 and Corporate Secretary from September 13, 2000 to May 16, 2002. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Yip acted as Chief Accountant to West African Minerals Group, a group of mining companies listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange Inc. and as an articling accountant to Cinnamon, Jang, Willoughby & Company, Chartered Accountants.

David Fedida, Ph.D., M.D.—Scientific Consultant

        Director of Electrophysiology, Dr. Fedida is an Associate Professor of Physiology at the University of British Columbia, where he is the inaugural Career Scientist of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and Yukon. He holds a B.Sc. in Physiology and Ph.D. degrees in Cardiac Electrophysiology from the University of Leeds where he studied under Professor B.R. Jewell and Dr. M. Boyett, and medical degrees (B.M., B.Ch.) from the University of Oxford (1986), where he also did postdoctoral work with Prof. Denis Noble and Frances Ashcroft. After completing full registration with the General Medical Council (UK) he entered postdoctoral training with Dr. Wayne Giles at the University of Calgary, and subsequently with Dr. Arthur Brown at Baylor College of Medicine. After a six year period as an independent investigator at Queen's University in Kingston, he moved to the University of British Columbia where he holds a number of grants from the MRC Canada and Heart and Stroke Foundation, and is involved in basic biophysical studies and antiarrhythmic drug action on cardiac ion channels.

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD

        Management receives guidance from a Scientific Advisory Board, presently composed of the following members:

Gunnar Aberg, Ph.D.

        Dr. Aberg is the founder and President of Bridge Pharma Inc., a research and early development pharmaceutical company based in Sarasota, Florida. Since its inception, Bridge Pharma's rapidly growing portfolio of diversified patented products is a credit to his considerable skill and experience in pharmaceutical and intellectual property issues. Prior to founding Bridge Pharma, Dr. Aberg was Senior Vice President of Research for Sepracor Inc., where he directed a research and development group focused on improvement of existing therapies. Notably, he directed Sepracor's development of Allegra, a non-sedating antihistamine without cardiotoxicity. Dr. Aberg has also held several senior research and development positions with major pharmaceutical companies including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Ciba-Geigy Corporation and Astra Pharmaceuticals Inc. He led research teams in these companies that have brought to the market products such as Monopril, Lopressor and Lotensin (all three are used for the treatment of high blood pressure), Tonocard (for cardiac arrhythmia), and Marcaine (for local anesthesia).

Stanley Nattel, M.D.

        Dr. Nattel obtained BSc (1972) and MDCM (1974) degrees at McGill University, and then trained in internal medicine (1974-76, at the Royal Victoria Hospital) and clinical pharmacology (1976-78, at the Montreal General Hospital). After research and clinical training in cardiology at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology in Indianapolis (1978-80) and an additional year of research training in physiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (1980-81), he became a faculty member in

48



pharmacology and medicine at McGill University and a cardiologist/clinical pharmacologist at the Montreal General Hospital. In 1987, he moved to the Montreal Heart Institute and the University of Montreal. Since 1990, Dr. Nattel has been the Scientific Director of the Research Center of the Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Nattel's research interests have focused on the basic mechanisms determining cardiac arrhythmogenesis and governing the efficacy and safety of antiarrhythmic therapy.

Eduardo Marbán, M.D., Ph.D

        Dr. Marbán is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and a consultant of Cardiome (see "Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—Marban Agreement"). Dr. Marbán currently serves as Professors of Medicine, Physiology and Biomedical Engineering at JHU. In addition, Dr. Marbán is the founder and Director of the Institute of Molecular Cardiobiology, is the Michel Mirowski, M.D. Professor of Cardiology and is the Vice-Chairman for Research, Department of Medicine, all at JHU. Dr. Marbán is an active full-time staff member of the Department of Medicine and is attending physician, Coronary Care Unit, The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

        Dr. Marbán has received numerous awards and honours to this point in his career including the Research Achievement Award, International Society for Heart Research, the Basic Research Prize, American Heart Association, the Louis and Artur Lucian Award for Research in Cardiovascular Diseases and the MERIT Award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. He is currently a member of the Association of American Physicians, Program Director, SCOR in Sudden Cardiac Death, a member of the Association of University Cardiologists, a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is a Fellow, American College of Cardiology. He chairs the Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council of the American Heart Association and is President of the Cardiac Muscle Society.

        Dr. Marbán has published or currently has in press a total of 220 scientific articles and is currently the Editor in Chief, Circulation Research, a Consulting Editor, Circulation and Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and is on the International Advisory Board, Japanese Circulation Journal. In addition, he is the invited referee for over 20 research journals including New England Journal of Medicine, Nature, and Science.

        Dr. Marbán was a member of the Cardiac Research Advisory Panel, Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals, was a consultant and founder of Physiome Sciences, Inc., a consultant to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Inc. and is a founder of Paralex, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

        Three patents have been issued and six patents are pending by Dr. Marbán.

        Dr. Marbán received his B.S. in Mathematics, summa cum laude from Wilkes College, M.D. from Yale University in 1980 and his Ph.D from Yale University in Physiology in 1981. Dr. Marbán received his board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1984 and Cardiovascular Subspecialty in 1987.

Dr. Denis Roy, M.D.

        Dr. Roy has been at the Montreal Heart Institute since 1982. He is a staff cardiologist and electrophysiologist, and also holds the position of President of the Council of Physicians at the Montreal Heart Institute. He has served as Chief of Electrophysiology and Head of the Department of Medicine at the Institute. He is past President of the Quebec Cardiology Association and is currently member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

        Dr. Roy has published over 80 papers in his areas of special interest, including mechanisms and management of arrhythmias, Sudden Cardiac Death, catheter ablation, pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and antiarrhythmic drugs. Dr. Roy was the principal investigator for the Canadian Trial of Atrial Fibrillation (CTAF) study, and is the current chairman of the Multicentre International Atrial

49



Fibrillation and Congestive Heart Failure (AF-CHF) trial, which is funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

        Dr. Denis Roy is Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec. He received his M.D. from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal in 1976 and did his internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital and residency at the Montreal Heart Institute. Post graduate training in electrophysiology was done through a fellowship grant from the R. Samuel McLaughlin Foundation first at the University of Limburg, Maastricht, Netherlands and then at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

BOARD COMMITTEES

        From time to time the Board appoints, and empowers, committees to carry out specific functions on behalf of the Board. The following describes the current committees of the Board and their members:

AUDIT COMMITTEE

        The current members of the Audit Committee of the Company are Kim Sun Oh (Chair), Fred Mermelstein and Michael Walker, none of whom is a current or former officer of the Company except for Michael Walker, who was formerly Chairman of the Board. Prior to March 8, 2002, the members of the Audit Committee were Colin Mallet (Chair), Kim Sun Oh and Allen Bain, none of whom was or had been an officer of the Company, except Allen Bain who was formerly President of the Company.

        The Audit Committee meets at least quarterly to review the quarterly and annual financial statements before they are presented to the Board, and approves the quarterly statements on behalf of the Board. The Audit Committee meets with the Company's independent auditors at least annually to review the results of the annual audit and discuss the financial statements and any changes in accounting practices; recommends to the Board the independent auditors to be retained and the fees to be paid; and receives and considers the auditors' comments (out of the presence of management) as to the adequacy and effectiveness of internal controls over the accounting and financial reporting systems within the Company.

        The Committee also reviews policies and practices concerning regular examinations of officers' expenses and perquisites, including the use of Company assets.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

        The Compensation Committee is responsible for determining the compensation of executive officers of the Company. The current members of the Committee are Mark Rogers (Chair), Ralph Snyderman and Fred Mermelstein, none of whom is a current or former officer of the Company, other than Mark Rogers, who is the current Chairman of the Board. Prior to March 8, 2002, the members of the Compensation Committee were Michael Walker (Chair), Colin Mallet and Darrell Elliott, none of whom was or had been an officer of the Company, except Michael Walker who was formerly Chairman of the Board.

        The Compensation Committee reviews the objectives, performance and compensation of the Chief Executive Officer at least annually and makes recommendations to the Board for change. The Committee makes recommendations based upon the Chief Executive Officers' suggestions regarding the salaries and incentive compensation for senior officers of the Company. The Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the compensation of directors as necessary. The Committee also reviews significant changes to benefits policies and compliance with current human resource management practices, such as pay equity, performance review and staff development.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

        The Corporate Governance Committee is currently comprised of Michael J.A. Walker (Chair), Ralph Snyderman and Elizabeth Rogers, none of whom is a current or former officer of the Company, other than Michael J.A. Walker, who was formerly Chairman of the Board. Prior to March 8, 2002, the members of the Corporate Governance Committee were Colin Mallet (Chair), Allen Bain, Darrell Elliott and Michael Walker, none of whom was or had been an officer of the Company, except Michael Walker who was formerly Chairman of the Board.

        The Corporate Governance Committee has developed a policy to govern the Company's approach to corporate governance issues and provides a forum for concerns of individual directors about matters not easily or readily discussed in a full board meeting, e.g., the performance of management. The Committee also ensures there is a clear definition and separation of the responsibilities of the Board, the Committees of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and other management employees. It also assesses the effectiveness of the Board, its committees and individual directors on an ongoing ad hoc basis.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE

        The members of the Nomination Committee of the Company are currently Mark Rogers (Chair), Alan M. Ezrin and Robert W. Rieder, all of whom are officers of the Company. Prior to March 8, 2002, the members of the Nomination Committee were Darrell Elliott (Chair), Michael Walker, and Clive Page, none of whom was or had been an officer of the Company, except Michael Walker who was formerly Chairman of the Board.

        The Nomination Committee identifies and recommends candidates for election to the Board. It advises the Board on all matters relating to directorship practices, including the criteria for selecting directors, policies relating to tenure and retirement of directors and compensation and benefit programs for non-employee directors.

EMPLOYEES

        As of March 31, 2002, the Company has 31 employees, 25 of which are employed in research and development and six of which are engaged in administration. Of the 25 engaged in research and development, 13 have Ph.D. or Masters degrees in a scientific field. At this time, none of the Company's employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements. The Company expects to add a small number of employees sufficient to support the increased business activities during fiscal 2002.

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

        "Named Executive Officer" means the chief executive officer, despite the amount of compensation of that individual, each of the Company's four most highly compensated executive officers, other than the chief executive officer, who were serving as executive officers at the end of the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001 and whose total salary and bonus exceeds $100,000, and includes any individual for whom disclosure would have been provided but for the fact that the individual was not serving as an executive officer at the end of the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001.

        During the most recently completed fiscal year, the Company had five Named Executive Officers—Robert W. Rieder, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan M. Ezrin, Chief Scientific Officer, Gregory N. Beatch, Vice President, External Scientific Affairs, Barry Johnson, Director of Pharmacology and Grace Jung, Senior Director, Research.

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SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION

        The following table is a summary of the compensation paid by the Company to its Named Executive Officers during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

Summary Compensation Table

 
   
  Annual Compensation
  Long-Term
Compensation

   
 
Name and Principal Position

  Year
Ended
Nov. 30

  Salary
($)

  Bonus
($)

  Other
($)

  Securities Under
Options Granted
(#)

  All Other
Compensation
($)

 
Robert W. Rieder
President and Chief Executive Officer
  2001
2000
1999
  241,250
200,000
200,000
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  7,500
113,750
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
 
Alan M. Ezrin(1)
Chief Scientific Officer
  2001
2000
1999
  258,836

  Nil

  42,802

(2)

195,000

  60,000

(3)

Gregory N. Beatch(4)
Vice President, External Scientific Affairs
  2001
2000
1999
  140,000
131,333
125,000
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  Nil
16,250
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
 
Barry Johnson(5)
Director of Pharmacology
  2001
2000
1999
  105,000
1,875

(5)
Nil
Nil
  Nil
Nil
  Nil
18,750
  Nil
10,000

(3)
Grace Jung(6)
Senior Director, Research
  2001
2000
1999
  104,833
96,583
90,333
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
  1,875
6,250
Nil
  Nil
Nil
Nil
 

(1)
Dr. Alan Ezrin was hired by the Company in January 2001 at a base salary of US$190,000. During the period of January 15, 2001 to November 30, 2001, total salary paid to Dr. Ezrin was $258,836.

(2)
This sum represents tax allowances paid.

(3)
This sum represents relocation expenses paid.

(4)
Dr. Gregory N. Beatch's title was changed from Vice-President, Research to Vice President, External Scientific Affairs on July 20, 2001.

(5)
Dr. Barry Johnson was hired by the Company on September 18, 2000. This represents a base salary of $105,000, of which $21,875 was paid to Dr. Johnson for the period of September 18, 2000 to November 30, 2000.

(6)
Dr. Grace Jung became a Named Executive Officer effective August 1, 2001 with her base salary increase to $115,000 per annum.

52


OPTIONS GRANTED DURING THE MOST RECENTLY COMPLETED FISCAL YEAR

        During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the following incentive stock options were granted to the Named Executive Officers.

Name

  Date of
Grant

  Securities
Under
Options
Granted
(#)

  % of Total
Options
Granted to
Employees
in Fiscal
year

  Exercise
or Base
Price ($/
Security)

  Market Value of
Securities
Underlying
Options on the
Date of Grant
($/Security)(1)

  Expiration
Date

Robert W. Rieder   Aug. 22/01   7,500   2.01 % $ 3.00   $ 2.88   Aug. 21/06
Alan M. Ezrin   Jan. 30/01
Aug. 22/01
  187,500
7,500
  50.34
2.01
%
%
$
$
2.92
3.00
  $
$
3.56
2.88
  Jan. 29/07
Aug. 21/06
Grace Jung   Aug. 22/01   1,875   0.56 % $ 3.00   $ 2.88   Aug. 21/07

(1)
Calculated as the closing price of the Common Shares of the Company on the TSX on the date of grant.

AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES

        The following table sets forth details of all exercises of incentive stock options during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001 by the Named Executive Officers and the fiscal year-end value of unexercised options on an aggregate basis:

 
   
   
  Unexercised Options
at Fiscal Year-End (#)

   
 
 
   
   
  Value of Unexercised In-
the-Money Options at
Fiscal Year-End ($)(1)

 
Name

  Securities
Acquired on
Exercise (#)

  Value
Realized ($)

  Exercisable/
Unexercisable

 
  Exercisable/ Unexercisable
 
Robert W. Rieder       190,750/90,500   —/— (2)
Alan M. Ezrin       70,000/125,000   —/— (2)
Gregory N. Beatch       33,750/11,250   —/— (2)
Barry Johnson       5,000/13,750   —/— (2)
Grace Jung       17,500/3,125   —/— (2)

(1)
The market value of the Common Shares of the Company on the TSX was $2.64 at fiscal year-end, November 30, 2001.

(2)
The exercise or base price of these options exceeded the market value of the Common Shares of the Company at fiscal year-end and hence these options were not in the money.

PENSION PLANS

        The Company does not provide retirement benefits for directors or officers.

53



COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

        During the most recently completed fiscal year, outside directors received compensation for services provided to the Company in their capacities as directors and/or consultants and/or experts as follows:

Name of Director

  Directors' fees
($)

  All Other Compensation
($)

 
Michael J.A. Walker   5,000   79,167 (1)(2)
Clive P. Page(3)   10,000   35,065 (1)(2)
Allen I. Bain(3)   5,000   Nil (2)
Colin R. Mallet(3)   10,000   6,500 (1)
Kim Sun Oh   5,000   Nil  
Darrell Elliott(3)   10,000   9,500 (1)

(1)
Consulting fees or meeting fees.

(2)
the Company paid $16,838 for contract research services to Pneumolabs (UK) Limited, a company of which Messrs. Walker, Page and Bain are directors, officers or shareholders.

(3)
Resigned as director effective March 8, 2002.

        Effective March 11, 2002, non-management directors of the Company are paid a meeting fee of US$750 per tele-conference meeting or US$2,500 per meeting attended in person. Each of the directors also receives an annual grant of incentive stock options to purchase 12,500 Common Shares of the Company. Each new non-management director also receives a grant of incentive stock options to purchase 50,000 Common Shares when he or she first joins the Board. Management directors do not receive separate compensation for their participation in board or committee meetings or for their services as directors of the Company, other than grants of incentive stock options. The Company pays all reasonable expenses associated with directors' attendance at, and participation in, Board and committee meetings, and other Company business to which a director attends. The Board annually reviews the adequacy and form of the compensation of directors and ensures the compensation realistically reflects the responsibilities and risk involved in being an effective director.

MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS OF NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The Company has entered into employment agreements with each of the Named Executive Officers.

Robert W. Rieder

        The following information was effective for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001. Subsequent to the acquisition of Paralex by the Company completed on March 8, 2002, this employment agreement is being renegotiated by the parties and is not yet finalized as of the date hereof.

        Under the employment agreement with Robert W. Rieder dated March 19, 1998, as amended effective January 1, 2001, Mr. Rieder acts as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company in consideration for an annual salary of $245,000, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. This salary is reviewed annually by the Board. Mr. Rieder is also eligible for grants of incentive stock options and bonuses, if certain objectives agreed between the Board and Mr. Rieder are met, as determined by the Board. He receives four weeks of paid vacation each year.

        Mr. Rieder's employment agreement has an indefinite term and may be terminated by him upon three months' written notice. If Mr. Rieder's employment is terminated without cause, Mr. Rieder is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 12 months' salary. The agreement provides that if

54



there is a change of control of the Company, Mr. Rieder's employment with the Company will be deemed to be terminated and, subject to certain conditions, he would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 24 months' salary. In addition, upon a change of control, the expiry date of all incentive stock options held by Mr. Rieder will be extended up to five years from the date of change of control to a maximum of 10 years from the date of grant.

Alan M. Ezrin

        The following information was effective for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001. Subsequent to the acquisition of Paralex by the Company completed on March 8, 2002, this employment agreement is being renegotiated by the parties and is not yet finalized as of the date hereof.

        Under the employment agreement with Alan M. Ezrin dated June 5, 2001, effective January 15, 2001, Dr. Ezrin acts as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Company in consideration for an annual salary of US$190,000, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. He is eligible for annual payments upon achievement of annual milestones set by the Company. He also received a grant of 187,500 incentive stock options of which 62,500 vested on the date of employment and the remaining 125,000 will vest upon the achievement of annual milestones. He receives four weeks of paid vacation and a tax cash allowance of U.S.$30,000 each year.

        Dr. Ezrin's employment agreement has an indefinite term and may be terminated by him upon 30 days' written notice. If Dr. Ezrin's employment is terminated without cause, Dr. Ezrin is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to up to 12 months' salary. The agreement provides that if there is a change of control of the Company, Dr. Ezrin's employment with the Company will be deemed to be terminated and, subject to certain conditions, he would be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 12 months' salary. In addition, upon a change of control, the expiry date of all incentive stock options held by Dr. Ezrin will be extended up to five years from the date of change of control to a maximum of 10 years from the date of grant.

Gregory N. Beatch

        Under the employment agreement with Gregory N. Beatch dated November 24, 1998, as amended effective August 1, 2000 and July 16, 2001, Dr. Beatch acts as the Vice President, External Scientific Affairs of the Company in consideration for an annual salary of $140,000, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. Dr. Beatch is eligible for an annual bonus payment of up to $10,000 if certain objectives set by the Company are met. He is also eligible for grants of incentive stock options as determined by the Board. He receives three weeks of paid vacation each year.

        Dr. Beatch's employment agreement has an indefinite term and may be terminated by either party upon 30 days' written notice and he will be entitled to receive any salary owed up to the date of termination. If the Company terminates his employment following a change of control of the Company, Dr. Beatch is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to 18 months' salary. In addition, upon a change of control, the expiry date of all incentive stock options held by Dr. Beatch will be extended up to five years from the date of change of control to a maximum of 10 years from the date of grant, if Dr. Beatch is terminated or dismissed without cause.

Barry Johnson

        Under the employment agreement with Barry Johnson dated September 18, 2000, Dr. Johnson acts as the Director of Pharmacology of the Company in consideration for an annual salary of $105,000, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. He is also eligible for grants of incentive stock options as determined by the Board. He receives three weeks of paid vacation each year.

55



        Dr. Johnson's employment agreement has an indefinite term and may be terminated by either party upon three months' written notice and he will be entitled to receive any salary owed up to the date of termination.

Grace Jung

        Under the employment agreement with Grace Jung dated September 8, 1998, as amended effective August 1, 2001, Dr. Jung acts as Senior Director, Research of the Company in consideration for an annual salary of $115,000, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. Dr. Jung is eligible for an annual bonus payment of up to $10,000 if certain objectives set by the Company are met. She is also eligible for grants of incentive stock options as determined by the Board. Dr. Jung receives four weeks of paid vacation each year.

        Dr. Jung's employment agreement may be terminated by either party upon three months' written notice and she will be entitled to receive any salary owed up to the date of termination.

        The Named Executive Officers participate in all employee benefits maintained by the Company, including any group disability plan, insurance plan, medical and dental plans, and are entitled to reimbursement of all reasonable out-of-pocket Company-related expenses.

DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INSURANCE

        The Company maintains liability insurance for its directors and officers in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000, subject to a deductible loss of $10,000, $25,000 or $100,000 payable by the Company for employment practice liability, general liability or U.S. securities claims respectively. The Company pays a total annual premium of $36,000, which premium has not been specifically allocated between directors as a group and officers as a group.

INDEBTEDNESS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        No director or officer of the Company or any associate or affiliate of such person is or has been indebted to the Company or its subsidiaries at any time since the beginning of the last completed fiscal year of the Company.

56



SHARE OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The following table sets out details of the shares and options of the Company that are held by directors and executive officers of the Company as at March 31, 2002.

Name

  Number of
Common Shares

  Percentage of Issued and Outstanding Common Shares
  Number of Shares held under Option
  Exercise
Price

  Expiration Date
Mark Rogers   Nil   N/A   N/A     N/A   N/A
Robert Rieder   39,900   0.14 % 50,000
50,000
13,750
150,000
10,000
7,500
7,500
  $
$
$
$
$
$
$
5.52
5.08
7.24
5.96
5.68
3.00
3.68
  September 12, 2006
March 24, 2006
March 29, 2005
March 17, 2003
April 20, 2002
August 21, 2006
February 4, 2007
Alan Ezrin   11,575   0.04 % 187,500
7,500
7,500
  $
$
$
2.92
3.00
3.68
  January 29, 2007
August 21, 2006
February 4, 2007
Michael Walker   615,517   2.18 % 7,500
7,500
  $
$
3.00
3.68
  August 21, 2006
February 4, 2007
Kim Sun Oh   27,000   0.1 % 7,500
7,500
  $
$
3.00
3.68
  August 21, 2006
February 4, 2007
Fred Mermelstein   931,085   3.29 % N/A     N/A   N/A
Myron Weisfeldt   Nil   N/A   N/A     N/A   N/A
Elizabeth Rogers   454,091   1.60 % N/A     N/A   N/A
Ralph Snyderman   Nil   N/A   N/A     N/A   N/A
Gregory Beatch   12,500   0.04 % 16,250
15,000
13,750
  $
$
$
5.08
5.00
4.20
  May 24, 2006
May 29, 2002
October 15, 2004
Christina Yip   Nil   N/A   9,375
5,625
3,750
2,500
  $
$
$
$
5.52
5.08
5.04
5.08
  September 12, 2006
May 24, 2006
January 10, 2005
November 26, 2007
Barry Johnson   Nil   N/A   18,750   $ 6.20   September 17, 2006
Grace Jung   Nil   N/A   6,250
1,875
12,500
  $
$
$
5.08
3.00
4.20
  May 24, 2006
August 21, 2007
October 15, 2004
TOTAL   2,091,668   7.39 % 626,875          

STOCK OPTION PLAN

        At the Company's annual meeting of shareholders held May 28, 2001, the Company adopted a new stock option plan. The purpose of the plan is to enable the Company to attract and retain personnel of the highest calibre by offering to them an opportunity to share in any increase in value of the shares resulting from their efforts and provide incentive to the Company's employees, officers, directors and consultants responsible for the continued success of the Company.

        All of the options that have been and will be granted under the plan must be exercised within a maximum period of ten years following the effective date of the plan. The Board designates the recipients of options and determines the number of common shares covered by each option, the date of vesting, the exercise price and the expiry date of such option and any other question relating thereto. Under the plan, the exercise price per common share is no less than the closing price per common share on the TSX on the trading day immediately preceding the day of grant.

57



        The maximum number of common shares that are currently issuable under the plan is 1,500,000 common shares. The board of directors has approved amendments to the plan which increase the number of common shares issuable under the plan to 5,500,000. These amendments are subject to shareholder approval. The maximum number of common shares that may be optioned in favour of any single individual under the plan will not exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the date of the grant. The maximum number of common shares which may be optioned in favour of directors and senior officers under the plan is 10% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the date of the grant.

INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS

        The following table summarizes the outstanding incentive stock options of the Company as of March 31, 2002.

Date of Grant

  Number of Options
  Exercise Price
  Market Value on Date of
Grant

  Expiry Date
(a)    Executive Officers (4 persons)
April 21, 1997   10,000   $ 5.68   $ 5.32   April 20, 2002
May 30, 1997   15,000   $ 5.00   $ 4.56   May 29, 2002
March 18, 1998   150,000   $ 5.96   $ 6.36   March 17, 2003
October 16, 1998   13,750   $ 4.20   $ 4.08   October 15, 2004
January 11, 1999   3,750   $ 5.04   $ 5.16   January 10, 2005
March 30, 2000   13,750   $ 7.24   $ 7.24   March 29, 2005
May 25, 2000   71,875   $ 5.08   $ 5.20   May 24, 2006
September 13, 2000   59,375   $ 5.52   $ 6.12   September 12, 2006
August 22, 2001   15,000   $ 3.00   $ 2.88   August 21, 2006
January 30, 2001   187,500   $ 2.92   $ 3.56   January 29, 2007
November 27, 2001   2,500   $ 2.80   $ 2.76   November 26, 2007
February 5, 2002   15,000   $ 3.68   $ 3.48   February 4, 2007
   
               
    557,500                

(b)    Non-Executive and Former Directors (6 persons)
April 3, 2001   37,500   $ 2.80   $ 2.80   April 2, 2002
February 9, 1999   15,000   $ 4.40   $ 4.40   February 8, 2004
November 1, 1999   12,500   $ 2.44   $ 2.40   October 31, 2004
August 22, 2001   45,000   $ 3.00   $ 2.88   August 21, 2006
February 5, 2002   45,000   $ 3.68   $ 3.48   February 4, 2007
   
               
    155,000                
(c)    Employees and Former Employees (26 persons)
April 3, 1997   35,000   $ 5.60   $ 6.08   April 2, 2002
May 30, 1997   5,000   $ 5.00   $ 4.56   May 29, 2002
June 12, 1998   23,750   $ 6.32   $ 5.40   June 11, 2004
October 16, 1998   21,250   $ 4.20   $ 4.08   October 15, 2004
November 1, 1999   2,500   $ 2.44   $ 2.40   October 31, 2005
May 25, 2000   40,938   $ 5.08   $ 5.20   May 24, 2006
September 18, 2000   18,750   $ 6.20   $ 6.20   September 17, 2006
December 19, 2000   9,375   $ 2.60   $ 2.32   December 18, 2006
May 28, 2001   7,500   $ 3.52   $ 3.48   May 27, 2007
August 22, 2001   18,750   $ 3.00   $ 2.88   August 21, 2007
November 27, 2001   57,500   $ 2.80   $ 2.76   November 26, 2007
   
               
    240,313                
(d)    Scientific Advisory Board Members, Consultants and Former Consultants (9 persons)
April 3, 1997   37,500   $ 5.60   $ 6.08   April 2, 2002
September 5, 2001   5,000   $ 2.92   $ 2.80   July 31, 2002
November 1, 1999   25,000   $ 2.44   $ 2.40   October 31, 2002
June 12, 1998   30,000   $ 6.32   $ 5.40   June 11, 2004
October 16, 1998   31,250   $ 4.20   $ 4.08   October 15, 2004

58


February 25, 1999   12,500   $ 4.20   $ 4.08   February 24, 2005
November 1, 1999   12,500   $ 2.44   $ 2.40   October 31, 2005
February 14, 2000   12,500   $ 4.20   $ 4.72   February 13, 2006
September 13, 2000   5,000   $ 5.52   $ 6.12   September 12, 2006
December 13, 2001   25,000   $ 3.00   $ 2.68   December 12, 2007
   
               
    196,250                
TOTAL:   1,149,063                

        The options have been granted as incentives and not in lieu of any compensation for services, and are subject to cancellation should the optionee cease to act in a designated capacity. There can be no assurance that the options described above will be exercised.


ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

        The Company is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled by another corporation, by any foreign government or by any other person or entity. The following table sets forth certain information as of March 31, 2002 concerning the beneficial ownership of common shares of the Company as to each person known to the management of the Company that is a beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company:

Title of Class

  Identity of Person or Group
  Amount Owned
  Percentage of Class
 
Common shares   Lindsay Rosenwald 2000 Family Trusts and the Lindsay Rosenwald 2000 Irrevocable Trust(2)   2,585,608 (2) 9.14 %
Common shares   Pembroke Management Ltd.(1)(3)   2,470,000   8.73 %
Common shares   RBC Global Investment Management Inc.(1)   2,182,623   7.70 %
Common shares   AGF Funds Inc.(1)   1,608,012   5.68 %

(1)
Based on ownership of, or control or direction over, the shares.

(2)
Shares are registered in the name of Jay Lobell, as trustee for these trusts. As discussed below, these family trusts were established by Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D. Dr. Rosenwald disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Dr. Rosenwald is also the sole stockholder, Chairman, and CEO of Paramount Capital, Inc., an NASD member broker dealer incorporated in the State of New York ("Paramount") and is sole and managing member of Paramount Capital Investments, LLC, a merchant banking and venture capital firm specializing in biotechnology ("PCI"). These family trusts established by Dr. Rosenwald had a substantial equity interest in Paralex, and consequently, currently hold a substantial equity interest in Cardiome. Paralex was originally formed by PCI and financed with the assistance of Dr. Rosenwald.

(3)
To the knowledge of the Company, this shareholder has not previously owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company.

        The Company's major shareholders do not have different voting rights than other shareholders.

59



UNITED STATES SHAREHOLDERS

        On March 31, 2002, the Company had 55 (2001 - 33 and 2000 - 33) registered shareholders with addresses in the United States holding approximately 9,537,919 common shares or approximately 33.71% (2001 - 10.46% and 2000 - 12.24%) of the total number of issued and outstanding shares. US residents also hold warrants to purchase 896,023 common shares. Residents of the United States may beneficially own common shares and warrants registered in the names of non-residents of the United States.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

        Although the directors and officers of the Company have various fiduciary obligations to the Company, situations may arise where the interests of the directors and officers of the subsidiaries of the Company or of the other shareholders thereof (other than the Company) could conflict with those of the Company. The potential conflicts of interest arise as a result of common ownership and certain common directors, officers and personnel of the Company, such subsidiaries and their associates and their affiliates. These conflicts are normally resolved in accordance with the applicable statutory provisions and common law requirements for the disclosure of conflicts at meetings of the directors held for the purposes, inter alia, of acquiring assets or dealing in assets in which directors have an interest.

        Some of the directors and officers of the Company are also directors and officers of other reporting companies. It is possible, therefore, that a conflict may arise between their duties as a director or officer of the Company and their duties as a director or officer of such companies. All such conflicts are disclosed by them in accordance with the Canada Business Corporations Act and they govern themselves in respect thereof to the best of their ability in accordance with the obligations imposed upon them by law.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        In August 2001 the Company signed an Introduction Agreement with Paramount Pursuant to the Introduction Agreement, the Company agreed to issue to Paramount 187,500 warrants of the Company and pay a monthly retainer fee of US$5,000 during the term of the agreement. The Company also agreed to pay a fee based on the percentage of consideration received by the Company from equity investments and/or partnering transactions facilitated by Paramount Capital, Inc. and issued additional warrants, as described in the agreement. This agreement was terminated in February 2002 and the total retainer fees paid to Paramount pursuant to this agreement were US$15,000. In connection with the completion of the acquisition of Paralex, the Company paid Paramount a fee of U.S. $235,825 in April 2002.

        Mark Rogers, M.D, current chairman of the board of Cardiome, is currently president of both Paramount and PCI. Dr. Rogers is also the former chairman of the board of Paralex, Inc. Elizabeth Rogers, M.D. and Fred Mermelstein, Ph.D., both directors of Cardiome, are currently both employees of PCI and founding shareholders of Paralex. Dr. Mermelstein is also a former director of Paralex. In addition, Dr. Lindsay A. Rosenwald, M.D., the sole stockholder, Chairman, and CEO of Paramount and the sole and managing member of PCI, established several family trusts which had a substantial equity interest in Paralex, and consequently, currently have a substantial equity interest in Cardiome.

        None of the foregoing parties, including Paramount, PCI, and Drs. Rosenwald, Rogers, Rogers, and Mermelstein are obligated pursuant to any agreement or understanding with Cardiome to make any additionally products or technologies available to, Cardiome or its affiliates, nor can there be any assurance, and Cardiome does not expect, that any biomedical or pharmaceutical product or technology identified by Paramount, PCI, or their affiliates in the future be made available to Cardiome or its affiliates.

60


        The following are payments made by the Company in related party transactions during the fiscal years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999.

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

Paid to companies with a common director for:            
  —contract research services   16,838   30,539   163,954
  —administrative consulting services       6,500
Paid to directors for:            
  —research consulting services   113,732   104,901   37,761
  —administrative consulting services   16,500   30,700   3,500
Accounts receivable from directors and/or companies with a common director   1,500    
Accounts payable to directors and/or companies with a common director   84,709   18,276   40,690

        All transactions are recorded at their exchange amounts and accounts receivable and accounts payable are subject to normal trade terms.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

        The following financial statements are included in this Annual Report:

    1.
    audited consolidated financial statements of the Company including the consolidated balance sheets as at November 30, 2001 and 2000, the consolidated statements of loss and deficit and cash flow for the years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, and the notes to those statements and the auditor's report thereon;

    2.
    audited financial statements of Paralex including the balance sheet as at November 30, 2001, the statements of loss, deficit and cash flows for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001, and the notes to those statements and the auditor's report thereon;

    3.
    unaudited financial statements of Paralex including the balance sheet as at February 28, 2002, the statements of loss, deficit and cash flows for the three months ended February 28, 2002, and the notes to those statements; and

    4.
    pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company including the pro forma consolidated statements of loss for the year ended November 30, 2001 and for the nine months ended August 31, 2002, and the notes to those statements.

LEGAL OR ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS

        Cardiome is not a party to any material pending legal or arbitration proceedings and is not aware of any contemplated legal proceedings to which it may be a party.

DIVIDEND POLICY

        The Company has not declared or paid any dividends on its outstanding common shares since its inception and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. The declaration of dividends on the common shares of the Company is within the discretion of the Company's board of directors and will depend on the assessment of, among other factors, earnings, capital requirements and the operating and financial condition of the Company. At the present time the Company's anticipated

61



capital requirements are such that it intends to follow a policy of retaining earnings in order to finance the further development of its business.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

        On March 8, 2002, the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Paralex in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares. Also, on March 8, 2002 the Company completed a concurrent financing of $30,908,061 (the equivalent of approximately U.S.$19,500,000) and issued 9,309,657 common shares along with warrants for the purchase of 2,327,414 common shares. See "Business Overview—History and Development—Acquisition of Paralex".

        On March 28, 2002 Cardiome announced that it had received a notice from AstraZeneca that AstraZeneca does not intend to proceed with clinical development of RSD1122. In accordance with the AstraZeneca License, AstraZeneca will return all rights and pre-clinical data associated with RSD1122 in June 2002 and the AstraZeneca License will terminate. Cardiome intends to evaluate the AstraZeneca pre-clinical data and, following consultation with its board of directors and scientific advisory board, decide whether or not to carry out and fund future research and development on this drug candidate. See "Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements—AstraZeneca License" under "Item 4. Information on the Company".


ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

        The Company's common shares have traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") since July 25, 2000 under the symbol "COM" (previously "NRT"), and in the United States are quoted on the NASD OTC Electronic Bulletin Board under the symbol "COMRF" (previously "NTRDF"). The Company's common shares were also traded on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. until February 2, 2001.

        The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices (Cdn. Dollars) of the Company's common shares on the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange for the last five fiscal years of the Company as well as the high and low sales prices (U.S. Dollars) on the NASD OTC Electronic Bulletin Board of the Company's common shares since the Company's common shares traded over the NASD OTC Electronic Bulletin Board. The information set forth below in the column entitled Toronto Stock Exchange reflects the highest and lowest sale prices reported on either the TSX or the TSX Venture Exchange, as the case may be, for each time period which includes any date from July 25, 2000 through February 1, 2001,

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        All share prices on the following table reflect the four-to-one share consolidation (reverse stock split) completed on March 8, 2002.

 
  Toronto Stock
Exchange

  NASD OTC
Electronic Bulletin

 
  Price Range (in Cdn.$)
   
   
 
  Price Range (in U.S.$)
Time Period

  High
  Low
  High
  Low
April 1 to April 18, 2002   $ 2.80   $ 2.56   $ 1.72   $ 1.50
Month ended March 31, 2002   $ 3.15   $ 2.70   $ 2.20   $ 1.55
Month ended February 28, 2002   $ 4.24   $ 3.40   $ 2.64   $ 2.20
Month ended January 31, 2002   $ 5.20   $ 3.52   $ 3.20   $ 1.76
Month ended December 31, 2001   $ 3.60   $ 2.56   $ 2.60   $ 1.48
Month ended November 30, 2001   $ 3.40   $ 2.24   $ 2.28   $ 1.52
Fiscal year ended November 30, 2001:                        
Fourth Quarter   $ 3.56   $ 1.60   $ 2.28   $ 1.40
Third Quarter   $ 3.92   $ 2.60   $ 2.40   $ 1.60
Second Quarter   $ 3.80   $ 2.40   $ 2.52   $ 1.60
First Quarter   $ 4.00   $ 2.00   $ 3.36   $ 1.40
Fiscal year ended November 30, 2000:                        
Fourth Quarter   $ 7.20   $ 4.08   $ 9.00   $ 2.76
Third Quarter   $ 6.80   $ 4.64   $ 4.36   $ 3.00
Second Quarter   $ 10.84   $ 4.32   $ 7.52   $ 2.64
First Quarter   $ 6.20   $ 1.88   $ 4.76   $ 1.00
Fiscal year ended November 30, 1999:   $ 6.92   $ 2.00   $ 4.52   $ 1.36
Fiscal year ended November 30, 1998:   $ 12.60   $ 3.32   $ 13.00   $ 2.00
Fiscal year ended November 30, 1997:   $ 7.52   $ 2.60   $ 6.20   $ 2.44


ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ARTICLES & BY-LAWS

        The Company was continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act, or the CBCA on March 8, 2002 under number 402208-4. The Company has no restrictions on its business imposed by the CBCA. The Company is authorized to issue an unlimited common shares without par value, of which 28,308,098 common shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Annual Report.

        All of the common shares rank equally as to voting rights, participation in a distribution of the assets of the Company on a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company and the entitlement to dividends. The holders of the common shares are entitled to receive notice of all meetings of shareholders and to attend and vote at the meetings. Each common share carries with it the right to one vote. There are no limitations on the rights of holders to own common shares.

        In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company or other distribution of its assets, the holders of the common shares will be entitled to receive, on a pro-rata basis, all of the assets remaining after the Company has paid out its liabilities. Distribution in the form of dividends, if any, will be set by the board of directors.

        Provision as to modification, amendment or variation of the rights attached to the common shares are contained in the Company's articles and by-laws and the CBCA. Generally speaking, substantive changes to the rights attached to the common shares will require the approval of the holders of common shares by special resolution (at least two-thirds of the votes cast).

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        There are no restrictions on the repurchase or redemption by the Company of common shares. There are no indentures or agreements limiting the payment of dividends. There are no conversion rights, special liquidation rights, sinking fund provisions, pre-emptive rights or subscription rights attached to any common shares. Holders of common shares are not liable to further capital calls by the Company.

        The directors have the power to convene general meetings of the shareholders of the Company and to set the record date for such meetings to determine the shareholders of record entitled to receive notice of and attend and vote at such meetings. Meetings must be held annually, at least every 15 months, and if they are not convened by the directors, may be requisitioned by shareholders in certain circumstances. The directors must stand for election at each annual meeting of shareholders. Meetings of the shareholders may be held anywhere in Canada or in New York, New York; Seattle, Washington; San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; or Boston, Massachusetts.

        If a director is materially interested in a proposal, arrangement or contract, the director must disclose in writing the nature and extent of his interest to the Company or request to have it entered in the minutes of a meeting of the directors. A director may not vote on any resolutions to approve proposals, arrangements or contracts in which they are materially interested unless it is a proposal, arrangement or contract: (1) relating primarily to the director's remuneration as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or an affiliate, (2) for indemnity or insurance for the director, or (3) with an affiliate. The directors of the Company have the power to borrow money from any source and upon any terms and conditions on behalf of the Company, subject to their fiduciary duties and the CBCA. There is no requirement that the directors must hold shares of the Company to qualify as directors and directors are not required to retire at a specified age.

        The CBCA requires that 25% of the directors of a corporation must be resident Canadians.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

1.
License agreement dated March 29, 1996 with the University of British Columbia. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

2.
Research Agreement dated March 1, 1997 with the University of British Columbia. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

3.
Agreement dated November 19, 1997 with Drs. MacLeod and Quastel. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

4.
Agreement dated October 16, 2000 with AstraZeneca. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

5.
Collaborative Research and License Agreement dated November 30, 2000 with Antalium Inc. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

6.
Employment Agreement dated March 19, 1998 and subsequent Amendment Agreement dated March 20, 2001 with Mr. Robert Rieder. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Management Contracts of Named Executive Officers".

7.
Employment Agreement dated November 24, 1998 with Dr. Gregory Beatch. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Management Contracts of Named Executive Officers."

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8.
Employment Agreement dated June 5, 2001 with Dr. Alan M. Ezrin. See "Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—Management Contracts of Named Executive Officers."

9.
License agreement dated April 18, 2001, as amended by agreement dated October 18, 2001 between Paralex and The Johns Hopkins University. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

10.
License agreement dated December 19, 2001 between Paralex and ILEX Oncology, Inc. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements"

11.
Agreement dated May 2001 and dated as of January 1, 2002 between Paralex and Cardiosciences Consulting, Inc. See "Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview—Licenses and Collaborative Research Agreements."

EXCHANGE CONTROLS

        There is no law or governmental decree or regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of common shares of the Company, other than withholding tax requirements. See "Item 10. Canadian Federal Income Taxation" and "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences".

        There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by the charter or other constituent documents of the Company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote common shares of the Company, other than as provided in the Investment Canada Act (Canada) (the "Investment Act"). The following discussion summarizes the principal features of the Investment Act for a non-resident who proposes to acquire common shares of the Company. It is general only, it is not a substitute for independent advice from an investor's own advisor, and it does not anticipate statutory or regulatory amendments.

        The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a reviewable investment by an individual, government or agency thereof, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture (each an "entity") that is not a "Canadian" as defined in the Investment Act (a "non-Canadian"), unless after review the Director of Investments appointed by the minister responsible for the Investment Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. An investment in common shares of the Company by a non-Canadian other than a "WTO Investor" (as defined in the Investment Act and which term includes entities which are nationals of or are controlled by nationals of member states of the World Trade Organization) when the Company was not controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment to acquire control of the Company and the value of the assets of the Company, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, was Cdn.$5,000,000 or more, or if an order for review was made by the federal cabinet on the grounds that the investment related to Canada's cultural heritage or national identity, regardless of the value of the assets of the Company. An investment in common shares of the Company by a WTO Investor, or by a non-Canadian when the Company was controlled by a WTO Investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it was an investment in 2002 to acquire control of the Company and the value of the assets of the Company, as determined in accordance with the regulations promulgated under the Investment Act, exceeds Cdn.$218 million. A non-Canadian would acquire control of the Company for the purposes of the Investment Act if the non-Canadian acquired a majority of the common shares of the Company. The acquisition of less than a majority but one third or more of the common shares of the Company would be presumed to be an acquisition of control of the Company unless it could be established that, on the acquisition, the Company was not controlled in fact by the acquiror through the ownership of common shares.

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        Certain transactions relating to common shares of the Company would be exempt from the Investment Act, including:

    (a)
    acquisition of common shares of the Company by a person in the ordinary course of that person's business as a trader or dealer in securities,

    (b)
    acquisition of control of the Company in connection with the realization of security granted for a loan or other financial assistance and not for a purpose related to the provisions of the Investment Act, and

    (c)
    acquisition of control of the Company by reason of an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the ultimate direct or indirect control in fact of the Company, through the ownership of common shares, remained unchanged.

CANADIAN FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

        The following discussion summarizes the principal Canadian federal income tax considerations generally applicable to a person (an "Investor") who acquires one or more common shares pursuant to this Registration Statement, and who at all material times for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Canadian Act") deals at arm's length with the Company, holds all common shares solely as capital property, is a non-resident of Canada, and does not, and is not deemed to, use or hold any Common share in or in the course of carrying on business in Canada. It is assumed that the common shares will at all material times be listed on a stock exchange that is prescribed for the purposes of the Canadian Act.

        This summary is based on the current provisions of the Canadian Act, including the regulations thereunder, and the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980) (the "Treaty") as amended. This summary takes into account all specific proposals to amend the Canadian Act and the regulations thereunder publicly announced by the government of Canada to the date hereof and the Company's understanding of the current published administrative and assessing practices of Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. It is assumed that all such amendments will be enacted substantially as currently proposed, and that there will be no other material change to any such law or practice, although no assurances can be given in these respects. Except to the extent otherwise expressly set out herein, this summary does not take into account any provincial, territorial or foreign income tax law or treaty.

        This summary is not, and is not to be construed as, tax advice to any particular Investor. Each prospective and current Investor is urged to obtain independent advice as to the Canadian income tax consequences of an investment in common shares applicable to the Investor's particular circumstances.

        An Investor generally will not be subject to tax pursuant to the Canadian Act on any capital gain realized by the Investor on a disposition of a Common share unless the Common share constitutes "taxable Canadian property" to the Investor for purposes of the Canadian Act and the Investor is not eligible for relief pursuant to an applicable bilateral tax treaty. A Common share that is disposed of by an Investor will not constitute taxable Canadian property of the Investor provided that the Common share is listed on a stock exchange that is prescribed for the purposes of the Canadian Act (the Canadian Venture Exchange is so prescribed), and that neither the Investor, nor one or more persons with whom the Investor did not deal at arm's length, alone or together at any time in the five years immediately preceding the disposition owned 25% or more of the issued shares of any class of the capital stock of the Company. In addition, the Treaty generally will exempt an Investor who is a resident of the United States for the purposes of the Treaty, and who would otherwise be liable to pay Canadian income tax in respect of any capital gain realized by the Investor on the disposition of a Common share, from such liability provided that the value of the Common share is not derived principally from real property (including resource property) situated in Canada or that the Investor does not have, and has not had within the 12-month period preceding the disposition, a "permanent

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establishment" or "fixed base", as those terms are defined for the purposes of the Treaty, available to the Investor in Canada. The Treaty may not be available to a non-resident investor that is a U.S. LLC which is not subject to tax in the U.S.

        Any dividend on a Common share, including a stock dividend, paid or credited, or deemed to be paid or credited, by the Company to an Investor will be subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25% on the gross amount of the dividend, or such lesser rate as may be available under an applicable income tax treaty. Pursuant to the Treaty, the rate of withholding tax applicable to a dividend paid on a Common share to an Investor who is a resident of the United States for the purposes of the Treaty will be reduced to 5% if the beneficial owner of the dividend is a company that owns at least 10% of the voting stock of the Company, and in any other case will be reduced to 15%, of the gross amount of the dividend. It is Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's position that the Treaty reductions are not available to an Investor that is a "limited liability company" resident in the United States. The Company will be required to withhold any such tax from the dividend, and remit the tax directly to Canada Customs and Revenue Agency for the account of the Investor.

CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

        The following is a general discussion of the material United States Federal income tax law for U.S. holders that hold such common shares as a capital asset, as defined under United States Federal income tax law and is limited to discussion of U.S. Holders that own less than 10% of the common stock. This discussion does not address all potentially relevant Federal income tax matters and it does not address consequences peculiar to persons subject to special provisions of Federal income tax law, such as those described below as excluded from the definition of a U.S. Holder. In addition, this discussion does not cover any state, local or foreign tax consequences.

        The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable, any or all of which could be materially and adversely changed, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. In addition, this discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any future legislation which, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. The following discussion is for general information only and it is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any holder or prospective holder of common shares of the Company and no opinion or representation with respect to the United States Federal income tax consequences to any such holder or prospective holder is made. Accordingly, holders and prospective holders of common shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors about the Federal, state, local, and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of common shares of the Company.

U.S. HOLDERS

        As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" is a holder of common shares of the Company who or which is a citizen or individual resident (or is treated as a citizen or individual resident) of the United States for federal income tax purposes, a corporation or partnership created or organized (or treated as created or organized for federal income tax purposes) in the United States, including only the States and District of Columbia, or under the law of the United States or any State or Territory or any political subdivision thereof, or a trust or estate the income of which is includable in its gross income for federal income tax purposes without regard to its source, if, (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and (ii) one or more United States trustees have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder does not include persons subject to special provisions of Federal income tax law, such as tax-exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, financial institutions, insurance

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companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers and Holders who acquired their stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation.

DISTRIBUTIONS ON COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY

        U.S. Holders, who are not subject to any of the provisions described in the "Other Consideration for U.S. Holders" section, and who receive distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to common shares of the Company are required to include in gross income for United States Federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions to the extent that the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Any Canadian tax withheld may be credited, subject to certain limitations, against the U.S. Holder's United States Federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holder's United States Federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See more detailed discussion at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the common shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of the common shares. Preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder which is an individual, estate or trust, if such holder has satisfied applicable holding period requirements. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder which is a corporation.

        Dividends paid on the common shares of the Company will not generally be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder which is a corporation may, under certain circumstances, be entitled to a 70% deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from the Company (unless the Company qualifies as a "foreign personal holding company" or a "passive foreign investment company", as defined below) if such U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value of the Company. The availability of this deduction is subject to several complex limitations which are beyond the scope of this discussion.

FOREIGN TAX CREDIT

        A U.S. Holder, who does not fall under any of the provisions contained within the "Other Consideration for U.S. Holders" section, and who pays (or has had withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of common shares of the Company may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. Generally, it will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States Federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayer's income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations which apply to the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder's United States income tax liability that the U.S. Holder's foreign source income bears to his or its world-wide taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. There are further limitations on the foreign tax credit for certain types of income such as "passive income", "high withholding tax interest", "financial services income", "shipping income", and certain other classifications of income. The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific and holders and prospective holders of common shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.

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DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES OF THE COMPANY

        A U.S. Holder, who does not fall under any of the provisions contained within the "Other Consideration for U.S. Holders" section, will recognize gain or loss upon the sale of common shares of the Company equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and the Holder's tax basis in the common shares of the Company. This gain or loss will be capital gain or loss if the common shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder unless the Company was a controlled foreign corporation at the time of the disposition. For the effect on the Company of becoming a controlled corporation, see "Controlled Foreign Corporation Status" below. Any capital gain will be a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the holding period of the U.S. Holder. Gains and losses are netted and combined according to special rules in arriving at the overall capital gain or loss for a particular tax year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. For U.S. Holders who are individuals, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted. For U.S. Holders which are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years from the loss year and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. HOLDERS

        In the following circumstances, the above sections of this discussion may not describe the United States Federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of common shares of the Company:

Foreign Personal Holding Company

        If at any time during a taxable year more than 50% of the total combined voting power or the total value of the Company's outstanding shares is owned, actually or constructively, by five or fewer individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States and 60% or more of the Company's gross income for such year was derived from certain passive sources (e.g., interest, dividends, annuities and royalties), the Company would be treated as a "foreign personal holding company." In that event, U.S. Holders that hold common shares of the Company would be required to include in income for such year their allocable portion of the Company's passive income which would have been treated as a dividend had that passive income actually been distributed. The Company does not believe that it is currently a foreign personal holding company.

Foreign Investment Company

        If 50% or more of the combined voting power or total value of the Company's outstanding shares are held, actually or constructively, by U.S. Holders, as defined in the "U.S. Holders" section above, and the Company is found to be engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, commodities, or any interest therein, it is possible that the Company might be treated as a "foreign investment company" as defined in Section 1246 of the Code, causing all or part of any gain realized by a U.S. Holder selling or exchanging common shares of the Company to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gains. The Company does not believe that it is currently a foreign investment company.

Passive Foreign Investment Company

        A U.S. Holder who holds stock in a foreign corporation during any year in which such corporation qualifies as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC") is subject to U.S. federal income taxation of that foreign corporation under one of two alternative tax methods at the election of each such U.S. Holder.

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        Section 1297 of the Code defines a PFIC as a corporation that is not formed in the United States and, for any taxable year, either (i) 75% or more of its gross income is "passive income," which includes but is not limited to interest, dividends and certain rents and royalties or (ii) the average percentage, by value (or, if the company is a controlled foreign corporation or makes an election, adjusted tax basis), of its assets that produce or are held for the production of "passive income" is 50% or more. The Company believes that it is a PFIC.

        As a PFIC, each U. S. Holder must determine under which of the alternative tax methods it wishes to be taxed. Under one method, a U.S. Holder who elects in a timely manner to treat the Company as a Qualified Electing Fund ("QEF"), as defined in the Code, (an "Electing U.S. Holder") will be subject, under Section 1293 of the Code, to current federal income tax for any taxable year in which the Company's qualifies as a PFIC on his pro-rata share of the Company's (i) "net capital gain" (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), which will be taxed as long-term capital gain to the Electing U.S. Holder and (ii) "ordinary earnings" (the excess of earnings and profits over net capital gain), which will be taxed as ordinary income to the Electing U.S. Holder, in each case, for the U.S. Holder's taxable year in which (or with which) the Company taxable year ends, regardless of whether such amounts are actually distributed.

        A QEF election also allows the Electing U.S. Holder to (i) generally treat any gain recognized on the disposition of his common shares (or deemed to be recognized on the pledge of his common shares) as capital gain; (ii) treat his share of the Company's net capital gain, if any, as long-term capital gain instead of ordinary income, and (iii) either avoid interest charges resulting from PFIC status altogether (see discussion of interest charge below), or make an annual election, subject to certain limitations, to defer payment of current taxes on his share of the Company's annual realized net capital gain and ordinary earnings subject, however, to an interest charge. If the Electing U.S. Holder is not a corporation, such an interest charge would be treated as "personal interest" that is not deductible at all in taxable years beginning after 1990.

        The procedure a U.S. Holder must comply with in making an timely QEF election will depend on whether the year of the election is the first year in the U.S. Holder's holding period in which the Company is a PFIC. If the U.S. Holder makes a QEF election in such first year, (sometimes referred to as a "Pedigreed QEF Election"), then the U.S. Holder may make the QEF election by simply filing the appropriate documents at the time the U.S. Holder files its tax return for such first year. If, however, the Company qualified as a PFIC in a prior year during which the U.S. Holder owned stock, then in addition to filing documents, the U.S. Holder may also elect to recognize as an "excess distribution" (i) under the rules of Section 1291 (discussed below), any gain that he would otherwise recognize if the U.S. Holder sold his stock on the application date or (ii) if the Company is a controlled foreign corporation ("CFC"), the Holder's pro rata share of the corporation's earnings and profits. (But see "Elimination of Overlap Between Subpart F Rules and PFIC Provisions"). Either the deemed sale election or the deemed dividend election will result in the U.S. Holder being deemed to have made a timely QEF election.

        With respect to a situation in which a Pedigreed QEF election is made, if the Company no longer qualifies as a PFIC in a subsequent year, normal Code rules apply, not the PFIC rules.

        If a U.S. Holder has not made a QEF Election at any time (a "Non-electing U.S. Holder"), then special taxation rules under Section 1291 of the Code will apply to (i) gains recognized on the disposition (or deemed to be recognized by reason of a pledge) of his common shares and (ii) certain "excess distributions", as specially defined, by the Company. Generally, an "excess distribution" is the portion of a distribution that exceeds 125% of the average distributions received by the U.S. Holder during the preceding three taxable years.

        A Non-electing U.S. Holder generally would be required to pro-rate all gains realized on the disposition of his common shares and all excess distributions over the entire holding period for the

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common shares. All gains or excess distributions allocated to prior years of the U.S. Holder during which the Company was a PFIC would be taxed at the highest tax rate for each such prior year applicable to ordinary income. The Non-electing U.S. Holder also would be liable for interest on the foregoing tax liability for each such prior year calculated as if such liability had been due with respect to each such prior year. A Non-electing U.S. Holder that is not a corporation must treat this interest charge as "personal interest" which, as discussed above, is wholly non-deductible. The balance of the gain or the excess distribution will be treated as ordinary income in the year of the disposition or distribution, and no interest charge will be incurred with respect to such balance.

        If the Company is a PFIC for any taxable year during which a Non-electing U.S. Holder holds common shares, then the Company will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such common shares, even if it is no longer by definition a PFIC. A Non-electing U.S. Holder may terminate this deemed PFIC status by electing to recognize gain (which will be taxed under the rules discussed above for Non-Electing U.S. Holders) as if such common shares had been sold on the last day of the last taxable year for which it was a PFIC.

        Under Section 1291(f) of the Code, the Department of the Treasury has issued proposed regulations that would treat as taxable certain transfers of PFIC stock by Non-electing U.S. Holders that are generally not otherwise taxed, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death.

        If a U.S. Holder makes a QEF Election that is not a Pedigreed Election (i.e., it is made after the first year during which the Company is a PFIC and the U.S. Holder holds shares of the Company) (a "Non- Pedigreed Election"), the QEF rules apply prospectively but do not apply to years prior to the year in which the QEF first becomes effective. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific consequences of making a Non-Pedigreed QEF Election.

        Certain special, generally adverse, rules will apply with respect to the common shares while the Company is a PFIC whether or not it is treated as a QEF. For example under Section 1298(b)(6) of the Code, a U.S. Holder who uses PFIC stock as security for a loan (including a margin loan) will, except as may be provided in regulations, be treated as having made a taxable disposition of such stock.

        The foregoing discussion is based on currently effective provisions of the Code, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Any such change could affect the validity of this discussion. In addition, the implementation of certain aspects of the PFIC rules requires the issuance of regulations which in many instances have not been promulgated and which may have retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that any of these proposals will be enacted or promulgated, and if so, the form they will take or the effect that they may have on this discussion. Accordingly, and due to the complexity of the PFIC rules, U.S. Holders of the Company are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisors concerning the impact of these rules on their investment in the Company.

Mark-to-Market Election for PFIC Stock

        Section 1296 of the Code provides that a U.S. Holder of a PFIC may make a mark-to-market election with respect to the stock of the PFIC if such stock is marketable as defined below. This provision is designed to provide a current inclusion provision for persons that are Non-Electing Holders. Under the election, any excess of the fair market value of the PFIC stock at the close of the tax year over the Holder's adjusted basis in the stock is included in the Holder's income. The Holder may deduct any excess of the adjusted basis of the PFIC stock over its fair market value at the close of the tax year. However, deductions are limited to the net mark-to-market gains on the stock that the Holder included in income in prior tax years, or so called "unreversed inclusions."

71



        For purposes of the election, PFIC stock is marketable if it is regularly traded on (1) a national securities exchange that is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, (2) the national market system established under Section 11A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or (3) an exchange or market that the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents legitimate and sound fair market value.

        A Holder's adjusted basis of PFIC stock is increased by the income recognized under the mark-to-market election and decreased by the deductions allowed under the election. If a U.S. Holder owns PFIC stock indirectly through a foreign entity, the basis adjustments apply to the basis of the PFIC stock in the hands of the foreign entity for the purpose of applying the PFIC rules to the tax treatment of the U.S. owner. Similar basis adjustments are made to the basis of the property through which the U.S. persons hold the PFIC stock.

        Income recognized under the mark-to-market election and gain on the sale of PFIC stock with respect to which an election is made is treated as ordinary income. Deductions allowed under the election and loss on the sale of PFIC with respect to which an election is made, to the extent that the amount of loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included, are treated as ordinary losses. The U.S. or foreign source of any income or losses is determined as if the amount were a gain or loss from the sale of stock in the PFIC.

        If PFIC stock is owned by a CFC (discussed below), the CFC is treated as a U.S. person that may make the mark-to-market election. Amounts includable in the CFC's income under the election are treated as foreign personal holding company income, and deductions are allocable to foreign personal holding company income.

        The rules of Code Section 1291 applicable to nonqualified funds generally do not apply to a U.S. Holder for tax years for which a mark-to-market election is in effect. If Code Section 1291 is applied and a mark-to-market election was in effect for any prior tax year, the U.S. Holder's holding period for the PFIC stock is treated as beginning immediately after the last tax year of the election. However, if a taxpayer makes a mark-to-market election for PFIC stock that is a nonqualified fund after the beginning of a taxpayer's holding period for such stock, a coordination rule applies to ensure that the taxpayer does not avoid the interest charge with respect to amounts attributable to periods before the election.

Controlled Foreign Corporation Status

        If more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of stock or the total value of the stock of the Company is owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. Holders, each of whom own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, the Company would be treated as a "controlled foreign corporation" or "CFC" under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would bring into effect many complex results including the required inclusion by such 10% U.S. Holders in income of their pro rata shares of "Subpart F income" (as defined by the Code) of the Company and the Company's earnings invested in "U.S. property" (as defined by the Code). In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, gain from the sale or exchange of common shares of the Company recognized by a shareholder who was a 10% U.S. Holder of the Company (while it constituted a CFC) at any time during the five year period ending with the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of earnings and profits of the Company attributable to the stock sold or exchanged. The Company believes that is is not currently a CFC. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, and because the Company may never be a CFC, a more detailed review of these rules is beyond of the scope of this discussion.

72



Elimination of Overlap Between Subpart F Rules and PFIC Provisions

        Under Section 1297(e) of the Code, a PFIC that is also a CFC will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to certain 10% U.S. Holders. For the exception to apply, (i) the corporation must be a CFC within the meaning of section 957(a) of the Code and (ii) the U.S. Holder must be subject to the current inclusion rules of Subpart F with respect to such corporation (i.e., the U.S. Holder is a "United States Shareholder," see "Controlled Foreign Corporation," above). The exception only applies to that portion of a U.S. Holder's holding period beginning after December 31, 1997. For that portion of a United States Holder before January 1, 1998, the ordinary PFIC and QEF rules continue to apply.

        This rule is designed to eliminate the risk that a U.S. Holder would be required to include a foreign corporation's earnings currently under both Subpart F and the PFIC or QEF rules.

AVAILABILITY OF DOCUMENTS

        Copies of all filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission can be obtained from www.sec.gov. Copies of all documents filed with the Securities Commission in Canada can be obtained from the website located at www.sedar.com.


ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        The Company's exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the increase or decrease in the amount of interest income it can earn on its cash equivalents and on the increase or decrease in the amount of interest expense the Company must pay with respect to its capital lease obligations and long-term debt. The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its cash equivalents which at November 30, 2001 had an average interest rate of approximately 4.64%. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001, the Company was subject to interest rate risk on its capital lease obligations which carried an annual rate of 8.5% to 11.% and on its long-term debt which carried an annual rate of 10.77%. The Company does not use interest rate derivative instruments to manage exposure to interest rate changes. The Company ensures the safety and preservation of its invested principal funds by limiting default risk, market risk and reinvestment risk, and mitigates default risk by investing in investment grade securities. A hypothetical 100 basis point adverse move in interest rates along the entire interest rate yield curve would not materially affect the fair value of the Company's interest sensitive financial instruments. Declines in interest rates over time will, however, reduce the Company's interest income while increases in interest rates over time will increase its interest expense.

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

        The Company has operated primarily in Canada and most transactions in the fiscal year ending November 30, 2001, have been made in Canadian dollars. The Company also maintains U.S. currency accounts for transactions in settlement of U.S. dollars. The Company has not had any material exposure to foreign currency rate fluctuations, nor does it have any foreign currency hedging instruments in place.


ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

        N/A.


PART II

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

        N/A.

73




ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

        The Company was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia). On March 8, 2002, the Company continued under the Canada Business Corporations Act. The rights of securities holders are substantially similar under the Company Act (British Columbia) and the Canada Business Corporations Act. In addition, on March 8, 2002, the Company effected a four-to-one share consolidation, or reverse stock split, resulting in its outstanding common shares being reduced from 113,172,393 to 28,293,098 and its fully diluted common shares being reduced from 136,370,232 to 34,092,558. Other than a pro rata reduction in each shareholder's number of shares, this transaction does not modify the rights of such shareholders.


ITEM 15. RESERVED

        Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(c) within 90 days of the filing date of this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. There were no significant changes in the Company's internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.


ITEM 16. RESERVED


PART III

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

        The financial statements filed as part of this Annual Report are listed in "Item 19. Financial Statements and Exhibits".

        The financial statements of the Company included herein, are stated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in Canada and have been reconciled to United States GAAP. The financial statements of Paralex included herein are stated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. For the history of exchange rates which were in effect for Canadian dollars against United States dollars, see "Item 3. Key Information—Currency Exchange Rates".


ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

        The Company has elected to provide financial statements pursuant to "Item 17. Financial Statements".


ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

A.    Financial Statements

1.
audited consolidated financial statements of the Company including the consolidated balance sheets as at November 30, 2001 and 2000, the consolidated statements of loss and deficit and cash flow for the years ended November 30, 2001, 2000 and 1999, and the notes to those statements and the auditor's report thereon;

2.
audited financial statements of Paralex including the balance sheet as at November 30, 2001, the statements of loss, deficit and cash flows for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of

74


    incorporation) to November 30, 2001, and the notes to those statements and the auditor's report thereon;

3.
unaudited financial statements of Paralex including the balance sheet as at February 28, 2002, the statements of loss, deficit and cash flows for the three months ended February 28, 2002 and the notes to those statements; and

4.
pro forma consolidated financial statements of the Company including the pro forma consolidated statements of loss for the year ended November 30, 2001 and for the nine months ended August 31, 2002, and the notes to those statements.

B.    Exhibits

1.1   Articles of Continuance of the Company(1)

1.2

 

By-Laws of the Company(2)

2.1

 

Form of Company's common share certificate.(3)

4.1

 

License agreement dated March 29, 1996 with the University of British Columbia(4)

4.2

 

Research Agreement dated March 1, 1997 with the University of British Columbia(5)

4.3

 

Agreement dated November 19, 1997 with Drs. MacLeod and Quastel(6)

4.4

 

Agreement dated October 16, 2000 with AstraZeneca(7)

4.5*

 

Collaborative Research and License Agreement dated November 30, 2000 with Antalium Inc.

4.6

 

Investment Agreement dated May 24, 2000 with FutureFund Capital (VCC) Corp.(8)

4.7

 

Employment Agreement dated March 19, 1998 and subsequent Amendment Agreement dated March 20, 2001 with Mr. Robert Rieder.(9)

4.8

 

Employment Agreement dated November 24, 1998 with Dr. Gregory Beatch.(10)

4.9*

 

Employment Agreement dated June 5, 2001 with Dr. Alan M. Ezrin.

4.10

 

2001 share option plan(11)

4.11*

 

Introduction Agreement dated August 10, 2001 with Paramount Capital, Inc.

4.12*

 

Acquisition Agreement dated December 21, 2001 with Paralex, Inc. and Cardiome, Inc.

4.13*

 

Agency Agreement dated February 28, 2002 with Sprott Securities Inc. and Raymond James Ltd.

4.14*

 

License agreement dated April 18, 2001, as amended by agreement dated October 18, 2001 between Paralex and The Johns Hopkins University.

4.15*

 

License agreement dated December 19, 2001 between Paralex and ILEX Oncology, Inc.

4.16*

 

Agreement dated May 2001 and dated as of January 1, 2002 between Paralex and Cardiosciences Consulting, Inc.

4.17

 

Common Share Purchase Warrant Indenture dated March 8, 2002 (including form of warrant)(12)

4.18

 

Form of warrant dated March 8, 2002 (included in Exhibit 4.17).(13)

4.19

 

Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Paramount Capital, Inc.(14)

 

 

 

75



4.20*

 

Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Sprott Securities Inc.

4.21*

 

Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Raymond James Ltd.

4.22

 

Form of Subscription Agreement(15)

4.23

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated March 8, 2002(16)

8.1*

 

Subsidiaries of Company

10.1**

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Chartered Accountants

99.1**

 

Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

99.2**

 

Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Notes:

*
Filed as an exhibit to our Form 20-F for the year ended November 30, 2001 dated April 26, 2002 and filed on April 26, 2002 (which Form 20-F is being amended by this Form 20-F/A).

**
Filed herewith.

(1)
Filed as exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002).

(2)
Filed as exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(3)
Filed as exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(4)
Filed as exhibit No. 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-29338 filed on August 22, 1997).

(5)
Filed as exhibit No. 3.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-29338 filed on August 22, 1997).

(6)
Filed as exhibit 2.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997 (File No. 0-29338).

(7)
Filed as exhibit 4.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed on June 4, 2001). Certain portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(8)
Filed as exhibit 4.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(9)
Filed as exhibit 4.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(10)
Filed as exhibit 4.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(11)
Filed as exhibit 4.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed on June 4, 2001).

76


(12)
Filed as exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(13)
Filed as exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(14)
Filed as exhibit 4.6 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(15)
Filed as exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(16)
Filed as exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

77



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirement of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing an Annual Report on Form 20-F and has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Report on its behalf.

CARDIOME PHARMA CORP.    
/s/  ROBERT W. RIEDER      
Robert W. Rieder
President and Chief Executive Officer
   

Date: April 29, 2003

 

 

78



CERTIFICATIONS

        I, Robert W. Rieder, certify that:

        (1)  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F/A of Cardiome Pharma Corp.; and

        (2)  Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

        (3)  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

        (4)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

            (a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

            (b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of filing this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

            (c)  presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date.

        (5)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

            (a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarizes and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

            (b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

        (6)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in the internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective action with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: April 29, 2003

    /s/  ROBERT W. RIEDER      
Robert W. Rieder
Chief Executive Officer

79


        I, Doug Janzen, certify that:

        (1)  I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F/A of Cardiome Pharma Corp.; and

        (2)  Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

        (3)  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

        (4)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

            (a)  designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

            (b)  evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days of filing this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

            (c)  presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date.

        (5)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

            (a)  all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarizes and report financial data and have identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

            (b)  any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls; and

        (6)  The registrant's other certifying officer and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in the internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective action with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

Date: April 29, 2003

    /s/  DOUG JANZEN      
Doug Janzen
Chief Financial Officer

80


Consolidated Financial Statements

Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)

November 30, 2001

81



AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Shareholders of
Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

        We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.) as at November 30, 2001 and 2000 and the consolidated statements of loss and deficit and cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended November 30, 2001. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian and United States generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

        In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at November 30, 2001 and 2000 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three year period ended November 30, 2001 in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. As required by the Company Act (British Columbia), we report that, in our opinion, these principles have been applied except for the change in the method of accounting for income taxes as explained in note 3[a] to the financial statements, on a consistent basis.

        As discussed in note 3 to the financial statements, the Company retroactively changed its policies for revenue recognition and its method of determining loss per common share.

Vancouver, Canada,
February 8, 2002 (except as to notes 19[a] and 19[c]
which are as of March 8, 2002 and note 19[e] which is
as of March 28, 2002).
  SIGNATURE

Chartered Accountants


Comments by Auditor for U.S. Readers on Canada-U.S. Reporting Difference

        In the United States, reporting standards for auditors require the addition of an explanatory paragraph (following the opinion paragraph) when the financial statements are affected by conditions and events that cast substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, such as those described in Note 1 to the financial statements. Although we conducted our audits in accordance with both Canadian and U.S. generally accepted auditing standards, our report to the shareholders dated February 8, 2002 (except as to notes 19[a] and 19[c] which are as of March 8, 2002 and note 19[e] which is as of March 28, 2002) is expressed in accordance with Canadian reporting standards which do not permit a reference to such conditions and events in the auditors' report when these are adequately disclosed in the financial statements.

Vancouver, Canada,
February 8, 2002.
  GRAPHIC

Chartered Accountants

82



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
Incorporated under the laws of British Columbia

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

 
  As at November 30
 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

 
 
  (expressed in Canadian dollars)
 
 
   
  [restated—
see note 3[b]]


 
ASSETS          
Current          
Cash and cash equivalents [note 5]   1,381,750   3,247,479  
Short-term investments [notes 5, 9 and 10]   2,801,830   6,971,661  
Amounts receivable and other [notes 6 and 15]   247,211   390,912  
   
 
 
Total current assets   4,430,791   10,610,052  
Capital assets [note 7]   302,583   452,970  
Other assets [note 8]   1,536,249   2,009,018  
   
 
 
    6,269,623   13,072,040  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY          
Current          
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities [note 15]   907,700   999,702  
Current portion of capital lease obligations     41,145  
Current portion of long-term debt [note 10]     50,161  
   
 
 
Total current liabilities   907,700   1,091,008  
Deferred revenue   1,348,374   1,499,598  
   
 
 
Total liabilities   2,256,074   2,590,606  
   
 
 
Commitments [note 12]          
Shareholders' equity          
Share capital [note 11]   32,251,393   32,235,393  
Special warrants [note 11[c]]   966,000    
Contributed surplus [note 11[f]]   1,192,266   1,056,266  
Deficit   (30,396,110 ) (22,810,225 )
   
 
 
Total shareholders' equity   4,013,549   10,481,434  
   
 
 
    6,269,623   13,072,040  
   
 
 

On behalf of the Board:

/s/  ROBERT W. RIEDER      
Robert W. Rieder, Director
  /s/  MICHAEL WALKER      
Michael Walker, Director

See accompanying notes

83



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND DEFICIT
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

 
  Years ended November 30
 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
 
  (expressed in Canadian dollars)
 
 
   
  [restated—
see notes 3[b]
and 3[c]]

  [restated—
see note 3[c]]


 
REVENUE              
Research collaborative, licensing and option fees [notes 3[b] and 13]   197,028   92,095   482,876  
Grant income   88,137   135,363   45,810  
Interest and other income   347,078   495,894   258,395  
   
 
 
 
    632,243   723,352   787,081  
   
 
 
 
EXPENSES [note 15]              
Research and development [note 18]   5,498,838   4,732,656   3,585,593  
General and administration [note 18]   1,741,193   1,569,044   997,890  
Amortization   550,097   917,288   654,918  
   
 
 
 
    7,790,128   7,218,988   5,238,401  
   
 
 
 
Loss for the year   (7,157,885 ) (6,495,636 ) (4,451,320 )
Deficit, beginning of year   (22,810,225 ) (16,314,589 ) (11,863,269 )
Adjustment for future income taxes [note 3[a]]   (428,000 )    
   
 
 
 
Deficit, end of year   (30,396,110 ) (22,810,225 ) (16,314,589 )
   
 
 
 
Net loss per common share [notes 3[c] and 11[h]]   (0.69 ) (0.69 ) (0.66 )
   
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding [notes 3[c] and 11[h]]   10,304,579   9,359,210   6,707,933  
   
 
 
 

See accompanying notes

84



Cardiome Pharma Corp.

(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

 
  Years ended November 30
 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
 
  (expressed in Canadian dollars)
 
    [Restated — see note 3[b]]  
OPERATING ACTIVITIES              
Loss for the year   (7,157,885 ) (6,495,636 ) (4,451,320 )
Add items not affecting cash:              
  Amortization   550,097   917,288   654,918  
  Stock-based compensation   136,000   16,000    
Changes in non-cash working capital items relating to operations:              
  Amounts receivable and other   143,701   (132,396 ) 18,744  
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   (214,156 ) 253,458   227,062  
  Deferred revenue   (151,224 ) 1,499,598    
   
 
 
 
Cash used in operating activities   (6,693,467 ) (3,941,688 ) (3,550,596 )
   
 
 
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES              
Issuance of share capital     8,009,619   5,412,353  
Issuance of special warrants   966,000      
Payment on obligations under capital leases   (41,145 ) (60,602 ) (71,221 )
Repayment of long-term debt   (50,161 ) (68,829 ) (61,830 )
   
 
 
 
Cash provided by financing activities   874,694   7,880,188   5,279,302  
   
 
 
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES              
Purchase of capital assets   (74,776 ) (179,085 ) (60,190 )
Patent costs capitalized   (125,090 ) (324,445 ) (168,160 )
Purchase of short-term investments   (8,675,780 ) (10,980,385 ) (2,767,926 )
Sale of short-term investments   12,845,611   6,583,891   1,557,009  
Increase in deferred acquisition costs   (16,921 )    
   
 
 
 
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities   3,953,044   (4,900,024 ) (1,439,267 )
   
 
 
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the year   (1,865,729 ) (961,524 ) 289,439  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year   3,247,479   4,209,003   3,919,564  
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   1,381,750   3,247,479   4,209,003  
   
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:              
  Interest paid   5,369   15,850   27,704  
   
 
 
 

See accompanying notes

85



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

November 30, 2001

(expressed in Canadian dollars)

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        Cardiome Pharma Corp. (the "Company") was incorporated under the Company Act (British Columbia) on December 12, 1986 under the name Nortran Resources Ltd. On June 24, 1992, the Company changed its name to Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc. On June 20, 2001, the Company changed its name to Cardiome Pharma Corp. The Company is a drug discovery company engaged in the treatment of pathologies and conditions which are mediated by cellular ion channels. The Company's primary focus is the discovery and development of drugs designed to prevent cardiac arrhythmias. To date, the Company has not yet determined the ultimate economic viability of the drugs and has not commenced commercial operations for its drugs.

        The Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2001 have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future.

        The Company has suffered recurring losses and negative cash flows and has an accumulated deficit of $30,396,110 at November 30, 2001. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain additional capital. Management expects to raise additional capital through private placements and public offerings [note 19]. The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted at this time. If the Company is unable to obtain adequate additional financing, management will be required to curtail the Company's operations. These consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to the amounts and classifications of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue in business.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        The Company prepares its accounts in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles. A reconciliation of amounts presented in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles is detailed in note 16. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies used in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements:

Principles of consolidation

        These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cardiome Pharma Corp., its wholly-owned Canadian subsidiaries, Rhythm-Search Developments Ltd. (RSD) and Atriven Cardiology Inc., and its wholly-owned United States subsidiary, Cardiome, Inc., an inactive company with nominal assets and liabilities. Cardiome, Inc. was incorporated on November 9, 2001 under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

Use of estimates

        The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

86



Foreign currency translation

        Monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date. All other assets and liabilities are translated at rates prevailing when the assets were acquired or liabilities incurred. Income and expense items are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the date of the transaction. Resulting exchange gains or losses are included in the determination of loss for the year.

        Cardiome, Inc. is considered an integrated foreign operation and its accounts are translated using the temporal method. Under this method, monetary items are translated at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date and non-monetary items are translated at exchange rates in effect at the time of the transactions. Revenue and expense items are translated at the average exchange rate during the year. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in the determination of loss for the year.

Cash equivalents

        The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents, which are carried at lower of cost or market.

Short-term investments

        The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments with an original maturity greater than 90 days but less than one year to be short-term investments. Short-term investments are considered available for sale and are carried at the lower of cost or market.

Capital assets

        Capital assets are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. The Company records amortization of laboratory, computer and office equipment and web-site development costs on a straight-line basis over 3 to 5 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease plus one renewal period. Equipment under capital lease is amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or 5 years.

Technology, license and patent costs

        The fair value of the technology acquired has been recorded as other assets. Technology and licenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of ten years.

        The Company capitalizes patent costs associated with the preparation, filing, and obtaining of patents. The cost of the patents is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the patents of ten years.

        The amounts shown for technology, license and patent costs do not necessarily reflect present or future values and the ultimate amount recoverable will be dependent upon the successful development and commercialization of products based on these rights. If management determines that such costs

87



exceed estimated net recoverable value, based on estimated future cash flows, the excess of such costs are charged to operations.

Leases

        Leases have been classified as either capital or operating leases. Leases which transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks incidental to the ownership of assets are accounted for as if there was an acquisition of an asset and incurrence of an obligation at the inception of the lease. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases wherein rental payments are expensed as incurred.

Government assistance

        Government assistance towards current expenses is included in revenue when there is reasonable assurance that the Company has complied with all conditions necessary to receive the grants and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Revenue

        Research collaborative fees, which are non-refundable, are recorded as revenue as the related research expenses are incurred pursuant to the terms of the agreement and provided collectibility is reasonably assured. Option fees related to the right to license and test the Company's compounds are recognized as revenue over the term of the option arrangement. Licensing fees comprise initial fees and milestone payments derived from collaborative licensing arrangements. When the Company has no further involvement or obligation to perform under the arrangement and the related costs and effort are considered substantial, non-refundable milestones are recognized upon the achievement of the specified milestones. Otherwise, non-refundable milestone payments and initial fees are deferred and amortized into revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant license if, for a fixed term, otherwise over the projected underlying product development period of ten years.

Research and development costs

        Research costs are expensed in the year incurred. Development costs are expensed in the year incurred unless the Company believes a development project meets generally accepted accounting criteria for deferral and amortization.

Stock based compensation

        The Company grants stock options to executive officers and directors, employees, consultants and clinical advisory board members pursuant to a stock option plan described in note 11[d]. No compensation is recognized for these plans when common shares are awarded or stock options are granted to officers, directors and employees. Any consideration received on exercise of stock options or the purchase of stock is credited to share capital. If common shares are repurchased, the excess or deficiency of the consideration paid over the carrying amount of the common shares cancelled is charged or credited to contributed surplus or deficit.

88



Future income taxes

        The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method of tax allocation. Future income taxes are recognized for the future income tax consequences attributable to differences between the carrying values of assets and liabilities and their respective income tax bases. Future income tax assets and liabilities are measured using substantively enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on future income tax assets and liabilities of a change in rates is included in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Future income tax assets are recorded in the financial statements if realization is considered more likely than not.

Loss per common share

        Loss per common share is computed by dividing the net loss for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, excluding shares held in escrow or other contingently issuable common shares. Diluted loss per common share has not been presented because outstanding options and warrants are anti-dilutive.

3. CHANGE IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

[a] Income taxes

        Effective December 1, 2000, the Company adopted the new recommendations of The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants with respect to accounting for income taxes. The change has been applied retroactively and, as permitted, the comparative financial statements have not been restated. The change in accounting policy resulted in an increase in future tax assets, a decrease in technology, an increase in future tax liabilities and an increase in the deficit at December 1, 2000 of $428,000 and a reduction in amortization expense and net loss for the year ended November 30, 2001 of $102,720. Before the adoption of the new recommendations, income tax expense was determined using the deferral method of tax allocation.

[b] Revenue recognition

        Effective June 1, 2001, the Company changed its accounting policy for recognizing license fees to be consistent with U.S. GAAP, as clarified by Staff Accounting Bulletin 101 ("SAB 101") Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, which was issued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in December 1999. License fees, which consist of initial upfront fees and milestone payments are deferred and amortized into revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant license or related underlying product development period if the Company has future involvement or obligation to perform under the arrangement, as described in note 2. Previously, the Company recognized upfront license fees and milestone payments as earned in accordance with the terms of the related agreement which was generally the period the payment was received.

89



        During the year ended November 30, 2001, the change resulted in an increase in research collaborative, licensing, and option fees and a decrease in the net loss of $151,224 from $7,309,109 that would have been reported had the change not been made. This change has been applied retroactively and prior periods have been restated with the following effect:

 
  As originally reported
Years ended November 30,

  As restated
Years ended November 30,

 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
Research collaborative, licensing and option fees   197,028   2,081,046   482,876   197,028   92,095   482,876  
Loss for the year   (7,157,885 ) (4,496,038 ) (4,451,320 ) (7,157,885 ) (6,495,636 ) (4,451,320 )
Net loss per common share [note 3[c]]   (0.69 ) (0.48 ) (0.63 ) (0.69 ) (0.69 ) (0.66 )
Deferred revenue   1,348,374       1,348,374   1,499,598    
Deficit   (30,396,110 ) (20,810,627 ) (16,314,589 ) (30,396,110 ) (22,810,225 ) (16,314,589 )

[c] Loss per common share

        Effective September 1, 2001, the Company adopted the new recommendations of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Section 3500 ("Earnings per share") with respect to the calculation of loss per common share. The change in accounting policy has been applied retroactively and all prior years have been restated. The impact of this change in accounting policy was to exclude escrowed shares [note 11[f]] from the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the calculation of loss per common share. For the year ended November 30, 2001, the change resulted in an increase in the loss per common share of $nil [2000—$nil; 1999—$0.03] to $0.69 [2000—$0.69; 1999—$0.66] from $0.69 [2000—$0.69; 1999—$0.63] that would have been reported had the change not been made.

4.    FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

        For certain of the Company's financial instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments, amounts receivable and other, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the carrying amounts approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The long-term debt and the obligations under capital leases bore interest at rates which, in management's opinion, approximated the current interest rates and therefore, approximated their fair value.

5.    CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

        Cash equivalents include approximately $1,094,000 [2000—$2,914,000] of commercial papers, bankers' acceptances and term deposits with an average interest rate of 4.64% at November 30, 2001 [2000—6.02%]. In addition, cash equivalents include amounts denominated in U.S. dollars aggregating $nil [November 30, 2000—$1,216,560 (US$792,031)].

        Short-term investments comprise mainly commercial papers and term deposits with an average interest rate of 3.23% at November 30, 2001 [2000—5.76%] and maturities to April 2002 [2000—July 2001].

6.    AMOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

Prepaid expenses   147,681   137,287
Interest and other receivables   99,530   253,625
   
 
    247,211   390,912
   
 

90


7.    CAPITAL ASSETS

 
  Cost
$

  Accumulated
amortization
$

  Net book
value
$

2001            
Laboratory equipment   728,194   509,386   218,808
Computer equipment   369,468   360,322   9,146
Office equipment   109,242   67,848   41,394
Leasehold improvements   29,255   7,765   21,490
Web-site development costs   13,640   1,895   11,745
   
 
 
    1,249,799   947,216   302,583
   
 
 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 
Laboratory equipment   583,238   310,588   272,650
Computer equipment   347,998   299,304   48,694
Office equipment   98,451   46,585   51,866
Leasehold improvements   10,093   2,021   8,072
Equipment under capital lease   135,243   63,555   71,688
   
 
 
    1,175,023   722,053   452,970
   
 
 

8.    OTHER ASSETS

 
  Cost
$

  Accumulated
amortization
$

  Net book
value
$

2001            
Technology   2,968,193   2,190,015   778,178
License   105,208   52,603   52,605
Patents   1,121,198   570,807   550,391
Deferred acquisition costs [note 19[a]]   155,075     155,075
   
 
 
Total   4,349,674   2,813,425   1,536,249
   
 
 

2000

 

 

 

 

 

 
Technology   3,396,193   1,953,115   1,443,078
License   105,208   42,082   63,126
Patents   996,108   493,294   502,814
   
 
 
Total   4,497,509   2,488,491   2,009,018
   
 
 

        During the year ended November 30, 2001, the Company recorded additional amortization expense of approximately $nil [2000—$287,000; 1999—$nil] with respect to patents no longer directly related to the Company's current focus.

9.    CREDIT FACILITY

        At November 30, 2001, the Company has available an operating line of credit of $30,000 [2000—$100,000]. Borrowings under this operating line of credit are collateralized by a cashable certificate of $100,000 [2000—$100,000] which is included in short-term investments. This credit facility bears interest at the bank's prime rate and is payable on demand. At November 30, 2001 and 2000, there was no outstanding balance drawn on this credit facility.

91



10.  LONG-TERM DEBT

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

 
Promissory note with interest rate of 10.77% per annum, repaid in blended monthly instalments of $6,468 per month     50,161  
Less: current portion     (50,161 )
   
 
 
       
   
 
 

        As collateral, the Company assigned short-term investments with a maturity value of $100,000 to the lender, which were released as collateral in November 2001.

        Interest expense during the year ended November 30, 2001 amounted to $1,583 [2000—$8,788; 1999—$15,786].

11.  SHARE CAPITAL

[a]    Authorized

        200,000,000 common shares without par value

[b]    Issued

 
  Number of
common shares
#

  Amount
$

 
Balance, November 30, 1998   6,918,325   19,951,850  
Issued for cash upon exercise of options   1,250   5,000  
Issued for cash upon exercise of warrants [v] and [vi]   234,750   845,100  
Issued for cash pursuant to private placements, net of issuance costs [iv]   1,821,411   4,480,090  
   
 
 
Balance, November 30, 1999   8,975,736   25,282,040  
Issued for cash upon exercise of options   44,500   151,190  
Issued for cash upon exercise of warrants [iv]   182,141   509,995  
Issued for cash pursuant to private placements, net of issuance costs [ii] and [iii]   1,476,585   7,348,434  
Return of escrow shares [note 11[f]]   (375,000 ) (1,056,266 )
   
 
 
Balance, November 30, 2000   10,303,962   32,235,393  
Issued pursuant to a technology assignment agreement [i]   5,000   16,000  
   
 
 
Balance, November 30, 2001   10,308,962   32,251,393  
   
 
 

[i]
In October 2001, the Company issued 5,000 common shares in settlement of an accounts payable balance of $16,000 with respect to a technology assignment agreement.

[ii]
On June 19, 2000, the Company completed a private placement of 1,387,300 special warrants at a price of $5.60 each for total gross proceeds of $7,768,880. Each special warrant was converted into one common share and one half of one common share purchase warrant, for no additional consideration. Each full warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at $6.40 expiring April 14, 2002. All of these warrants remain outstanding at November 30, 2001 [note 11[e]]. In connection with the private placement, the Company paid a cash commission of $543,822 and legal and professional fees of $376,624 and granted 138,730 agent's options to the lead agent of this financing which were converted into 138,730 common share purchase warrants. Each share

92


    purchase warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at $5.60. All of these share purchase warrants expired on October 14, 2001.

[iii]
On June 5, 2000, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of 89,286 units at $5.60 per unit for gross proceeds of $500,000. Each unit was converted into one common share and one half of one common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant share entitles the holder to acquire one common share at $6.40 expiring June 5, 2002. All of these warrants remain outstanding as at November 30, 2001 [note 11[e]].

[iv]
On November 18, 1999, the Company completed a private placement of 1,821,411 special warrants at a price of $2.80 each for total gross proceeds of $5,099,950. Each special warrant was converted into one common share at no additional cost. In connection with the private placement, the Company paid a cash commission of $304,496 and legal and professional fees of $315,364 and granted 182,141 agent's options to the lead agent of this financing which were converted into 182,141 share purchase warrants. Each share purchase warrant entitled the holder to purchase one common share at $2.80 until August 11, 2001. All share purchase warrants were exercised during the year ended November 30, 2000.

[v]
On June 30, 1997, the Company completed a brokered private placement of 250,000 units at $2.88 per unit for gross proceeds of $720,000. Each unit comprised one common share and one common share purchase warrant. In addition, the underwriting agent received 25,000 agent's warrants. Each full warrant entitled the holder to acquire one common share at $2.88 in the first year and $3.60 in the subsequent year. Of the 275,000 warrants issued, 55,000 were exercised during the year ended November 30, 1998 and 34,750 were exercised during the year ended November 30, 1999. The balance of 185,250 expired on June 29, 1999.

[vi]
On May 9, 1997, the Company completed a non-brokered private placement of 625,000 units at $2.88 per unit for gross proceeds of $1,800,000. Each unit comprised one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant entitled the holder to acquire one common share at $2.88 in the first year and $3.60 in the subsequent year. Of the 625,000 warrants issued, 425,000 were exercised during the year ended November 30, 1998. The remaining 200,000 were exercised during the year ended November 30, 1999.

[c]    Special warrants

        On October 10, 2001, the Company completed a private placement of 458,583 special warrants at a price of $2.40 each for total gross proceeds of $1,100,600. Each special warrant is convertible into one common share of the Company and one half of one common share purchase warrant, for no additional consideration. Each full purchase warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share at $3.20 expiring October 10, 2003. In connection with the private placement, the Company paid a cash commission of $28,042 and legal and professional fees of $106,558, and granted 16,691 agent's warrants to the lead agent of this financing. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one common share at $2.40 per share until October 10, 2003.

        Pursuant to a final prospectus qualifying the common shares and common share purchase warrants on January 30, 2002, the Company issued 458,583 common shares and 229,292 common share purchase warrants.

93


[d]    Stock options

        In May 1998, the shareholders approved the 1998 Stock Option Plan for which up to 1,000,000 common shares can be reserved for issuance to executive officers, directors, employees, consultants and clinical advisory board members of the Company. On May 28, 2001, the shareholders approved a new stock option plan ("2001 Plan") for which up to 1,500,000 common shares can be reserved for issuance to executive officers and directors, employees, consultants and clinical advisory board members of the Company. The shareholders also approved the merger of the 1998 Plan into the 2001 Plan such that the options outstanding under the 1998 Plan shall be deemed to be outstanding under the 2001 Plan to the same extent as if they were originally granted under the 2001 Plan. The shares available for issuance under the 2001 Plan generally vest over a period beginning immediately and up to 5 years with a term of six years. Of the total stock options outstanding at November 30, 2001, 180,000 options vest upon the achievement of certain milestones [November 30, 2000—55,000]. At November 30, 2001, the Company has 420,313 [November 30, 2000—85,950] common shares available for future issuance under the 2001 Plan.

        At November 30, 2001, stock options to executive officers and directors, employees, consultants and clinical advisory board members were outstanding as follows:

Number of common shares
   
   
under option
#

  currently exercisable
#

  Exercise price
$

  Date of expiry
37,500   37,500   2.80   April 2, 2002
72,500   72,500   5.60   April 2, 2002
10,000   10,000   5.68   April 20, 2002
20,000   20,000   5.00   May 29, 2002
5,000   2,500   2.92   July 31, 2002
25,000   25,000   2.44   October 31, 2002
150,000   120,000   5.96   March 17, 2003
15,000   15,000   4.40   February 8, 2004
57,500   55,000   6.32   June 11, 2004
66,250   66,250   4.20   October 15, 2004
12,500   12,500   2.44   October 31, 2004
7,500   7,500   5.04   January 10, 2005
12,500   5,000   4.20   February 24, 2005
13,750   13,750   7.24   March 29, 2005
15,000   12,500   2.44   October 31, 2005
12,500   5,000   4.20   February 13, 2006
117,188   72,188   5.08   May 24, 2006
60,000   60,000   3.00   August 21, 2006
66,250   33,875   5.52   September 12, 2006
18,750   5,000   6.20   September 17, 2006
9,375     2.60   December 18, 2006
187,500   62,500   2.92   January 29, 2007
7,500     3.52   May 27, 2007
18,750     3.00   August 21, 2007
61,875   12,500   2.80   November 26, 2007

 
       
1,079,688   726,063        

 
       

94


        Stock options outstanding at November 30, 2001, are summarized as follows:

 
  Number of
common shares
under option
#

  Weighted
average
exercise
price
$

Balance, November 30, 1998   591,825   5.24
Options granted   120,000   3.68
Options exercised   (1,250 ) 4.00
Options forfeited   (39,825 ) 4.84
   
 
Balance, November 30, 1999   670,750   5.00
Options granted   318,438   5.24
Options exercised   (44,500 ) 3.40
Options forfeited   (25,000 ) 5.20
   
 
Balance, November 30, 2000   919,688   5.16
Options granted   391,250   2.92
Options forfeited   (221,250 ) 5.08
Options cancelled [i]   (10,000 ) 4.92
   
 
Balance, November 30, 2001   1,079,688   4.37
   
 

[i]
On August 22, 2001, pursuant to the adoption of a new director's compensation package, the Company cancelled 10,000 stock options with an exercise price of $4.20 previously granted to a director and granted 7,500 new stock options with an exercise price of $3.00.

[e]    Common share purchase warrants

        At November 30, 2001, common share purchase warrants were outstanding as follows:

Number of common
shares issuable
#

  Exercise price
$

  Date of expiry
693,650   6.40   April 14, 2002
44,643   6.40   June 5, 2002
187,500   [i]   [i]
16,691 [note 11[c]] 2.40   October 10, 2003
229,292 [note 11[c]] 3.20   October 10, 2003

       
1,171,776        

       

[i]
see note 12[d].

[f]    Escrow shares

        Prior to February 22, 2000, the Company had 375,000 common shares held in escrow. The release of these shares was subject to regulatory approval upon achieving prescribed cumulative cash flow amounts. The 375,000 common shares held in escrow were cancelled effective February 22, 2000 upon the expiry of the escrow agreement. Accordingly, the weighted average per share amount attributed to the cancelled shares of $1,056,266 has been allocated to contributed surplus.

95



[g]    Commitment to issue shares

        Under the terms of a licensing agreement, the Company has agreed to issue 50,000 common shares to the licensor upon the achievement of certain milestones. At November 30, 2001 and 2000, these milestones had not been achieved.

[h]    Loss per common share

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
Numerator              
Loss for the year   (7,157,885 ) (6,495,636 ) (4,451,320 )
   
 
 
 
Denominator              
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding   10,304,579   9,445,511   7,082,933  
Escrowed shares     (86,301 ) (375,000 )
   
 
 
 
    10,304,579   9,359,210   6,707,933  
   
 
 
 
Loss per common share   (0.69 ) (0.69 ) (0.66 )
   
 
 
 

12.  COMMITMENTS

[a]    Operating leases

        The Company leases its premises under an operating lease agreement. The minimum lease commitments under this operating lease agreement, expiring in March 2002, are approximately $80,000.

        Rent expense for the year ended November 30, 2001 amounted to $256,020 [2000—$256,285; 1999—$141,717].

[b]    Research agreements

        The Company has entered into various collaborative research agreements requiring it to fund research expenditures of $1,400,000 for the year ending November 30, 2002.

[c]    License agreements

        Pursuant to a license agreement, the Company is responsible for payment of royalties based on a percentage of revenue, subject to certain minimum annual royalties. As at November 30, 2001 and 2000, no royalties were payable. The license agreement may be terminated by the licensor if certain development milestones are not met. Unless otherwise terminated, the agreement expires on the expiry date of the last issued patent.

        Pursuant to an agreement, the Company is responsible for payment of $500,000 upon commencement of Phase III clinical trials and a further $2,000,000 upon filing a New Drug Application in the United States or Canada for the licensed Nociblocker technology. As at November 30, 2001 and 2000, no amounts were payable. The agreement expires on the expiry date of the last patent relating to certain technology.

[d]    Service agreement

        In August 2001, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with a third party. The agreement requires the payment of US$5,000 per month for the term of the agreement, which expired on February 9, 2002. The Company is required to pay a fee based on the percentage of the consideration received by the Company from equity investments and/or partnering transactions

96



facilitated by the consultant and issue additional warrants, as described in the agreement. In addition, the Company agreed to grant, subject to regulatory approval, 187,500 retainer warrants which vest on February 9, 2002 with the following terms [note 11[e]].

Number of options
#

  Exercise price
US$

  Date of expiry
75,000   2.40   February 9, 2004 [i]
25,000   4.80   February 9, 2004 [i]
25,000   8.00   February 9, 2004 [i] and [ii]
37,500   2.40   February 9, 2007 [iii]
12,500   4.80   February 9, 2007 [iii]
12,500   8.00   February 9, 2007 [ii] and [iii]

       
187,500        

       

        The fair value of the warrants granted, which was estimated using the Black Scholes Pricing Model, in the amount of $136,000 has been recorded as an expense and an increase in contributed surplus in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended November 30, 2001.

[i]
The expiry date of these warrants may be extended through February 9, 2007 if certain milestones are achieved before August 9, 2003, as described in the consulting agreement.

[ii]
In November 2001, the exercise price of these warrants was decreased from $12.00 to $8.00, subject to regulatory and Board approval.

[iii]
In November 2001, the expiry date of these warrants was accelerated from February 9, 2009 to February 9, 2007, subject to regulatory and Board approval.

13.  COLLABORATIVE AGREEMENTS

        On October 16, 2000, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca AB ("AstraZeneca"), for the worldwide development and commercialization of RSD1122, an antiarrhythimic compound developed by the Company. Under the terms of the agreement, AstraZeneca agreed to pay the Company up to US$2,500,000 prior to the commencement of clinical trials of RSD1122, of which $nil was collected during the year ended November 30, 2001 [2000—US$1,000,000], and further agreed to pay the Company additional payments totaling US$20,000,000 upon achievement of specified milestones relating to clinical trials, and royalties based on future net sales. AstraZeneca will assume responsibility for all costs for the development and marketing of RSD1122. The license agreement will terminate if certain development milestones are not met or after AstraZeneca provides the appropriate notice. Unless otherwise terminated, the royalty payment period will expire on the later of ten years from the first commercial sale of a product or the expiration of the last issued patent [see note 19[e]].

        The Company entered into a collaborative research and license agreement with Antalium Inc. ("Antalium") on November 30, 2000, for the worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of certain Nociblocker compounds developed by the Company. Pursuant to the agreement, Antalium has a right to select certain compound(s) from a group of test compounds delivered by the Company. Antalium agreed to pay the Company milestone payments and royalties based on future net sales for those compounds selected for further development. The license agreement will terminate if certain development milestones are not met. Unless otherwise terminated, the agreement will expire upon the expiration of the last issued patent. Antalium also agreed to provide screening and other tests on research compounds for the Company's cough project.

97



14.  INCOME TAXES

        At November 30, 2001, the Company has investment tax credits and non-capital losses for income tax purposes which expire as follows:

 
  Investment
tax credits
$

  Non-capital
losses
$

2002     332,000
2003     545,000
2004   4,000   1,530,000
2005   62,000   2,830,000
2006   111,000   2,549,000
2007   261,000   2,482,000
2008   520,000   3,998,000
2009   402,000  
2010   558,000  
2011   745,000  
   
 
    2,663,000   14,266,000
   
 

        Significant components of the Company's future tax assets and liabilities are shown below:

 
  November 30,
2001
$

  December 1,
2000
$

 
Future tax assets:          
  Tax loss carryforwards   5,081,900   3,725,000  
  Research and development deductions and credits   5,485,900   2,472,400  
  Tax values of depreciable assets in excess of accounting values   649,400   525,700  
  Revenue unearned for accounting purposes   480,300   710,000  
  Share issue costs   328,200   406,600  
  Other items   2,600   63,600  
   
 
 
Total future tax assets   12,028,300   7,903,300  
Valuation allowance   (11,647,100 ) (7,475,300 )
   
 
 
Total future tax assets   381,200   428,000  
   
 
 
Future tax liabilities:          
  Accounting value of technology in excess of tax value   (381,200 ) (428,000 )
   
 
 
Total future tax liabilities   (381,200 ) (428,000 )
   
 
 
Net future tax assets      
   
 
 

        The potential income tax benefits relating to these future tax assets have not been recognized in the accounts as their realization did not meet the requirements of "more likely than not" under the liability method of tax allocation. In prior periods the Company had concluded the realization of the loss carryforwards and tax credits under the deferral method of tax allocation did not meet the virtual certainty and reasonable assurance test. Accordingly, no future tax assets were recorded at November 30, 2001 and 2000.

98



        The reconciliation of income tax attributable to operations computed at the statutory tax rates to income tax expense (recovery), using a 44.62% [2000—45.62%; 1999—45.62%] statutory tax rate, is:

 
  Liability
method

  Deferral method
Years ended November 30,

 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
Tax provision at combined statutory income tax rate   (3,193,900 ) (2,963,300 ) (2,030,700 )
Occurrence of losses and deferred tax credits for which no tax benefit has been recorded   1,784,000   1,360,300   1,162,800  
Amortization in excess of capital cost allowance for tax   245,500   418,500   617,000  
Research and development expenses not deducted for tax purposes   1,383,100   690,700   619,400  
Share issue costs   (158,300 ) (196,500 ) (112,500 )
Utilization of losses not previously booked       (366,700 )
Revenue unearned for accounting purposes [note 3[b]]   (67,400 ) 684,100    
Other   7,000   6,200   110,700  
   
 
 
 
         
   
 
 
 

15.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        The Company has incurred expenses for services provided to related parties as follows:

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

Companies with a common director for:            
  —contract research services   16,838   30,539   163,954
  —administrative consulting services       6,500
Directors for:            
  —research consulting services   113,732   104,901   37,761
  —administrative consulting services   16,500   30,700   3,500

        All transactions are recorded at their exchange amounts and accounts payable are subject to normal trade terms.

        Included in amounts receivable at November 30, 2001 is $1,500 [November 30, 2000—$nil] due from a company with a common director.

        Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities at November 30, 2001 is $84,709 [2000—$18,276] owing to directors and/or companies with a common director.

16.  RECONCILIATION OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

        The Company prepares the consolidated financial statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("Canadian GAAP") which as applied in these consolidated financial statements conform in all material respects to United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"), except as follows:

    [a]
    As described in note 3[a], the Company adopted the liability method of accounting for income taxes. As a result of differences in the transition rules between the recommendations of The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants with respect to accounting for income taxes and SFAS 109, there is a $325,280 [2000—$428,000] difference in technology and deficit under U.S. GAAP.

99


    [b]
    Under U.S. GAAP, the Company has allocated the gross proceeds received from its private placements to the common shares or special warrants issued and warrants granted, based on their relative fair values. For the year ended November 30, 2000, the Company has allocated the portion of gross proceeds related to the warrants of approximately $1,085,000 to contributed surplus. The fair values of the warrants and special warrants were determined using the Black Scholes pricing model.

    [c]
    For reconciliation purposes to U.S. GAAP, the Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25) and related interpretations, in accounting for stock options granted to executive officers, directors and employees. Compensation expense is calculated based on the difference, on the date of grant, between the fair market value of the Company's stock and the exercise price and is recorded over the vesting period of the options. For purposes of reconciliation to U.S. GAAP, the Company will record, in future periods, additional compensation expense of $nil in respect of options granted to executive officers, directors and employees below fair market value [2000—$4,100; 1999—$nil].

      The Company accounts for the cancellation and re-issuance of stock options to executive officers, directors and employees under APB 25 and related interpretations, whereby stock options cancelled and re-granted at a lower exercise, within six months of cancellation are subject to variable accounting. For the year ended November 30, 2001, no compensation expense was recorded as a result of stock options that were cancelled and re-granted to executive officers, directors and employees.

    [d]
    Under U.S. GAAP, stock based compensation to non-employees must be recorded at the fair value of the options granted. This compensation is expensed over the vesting periods of each option grant. The fair value of the stock options granted to non-employees during the year ended November 30, 2001 was estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield 0.0%, expected volatility 0.99 [2000—0.96; 1999—0.83], risk-free interest rate 5.0% [2000—6.5%; 1999—5.7%] and expected average option life of 4.5 years [2000—4.8; 1999—3.7]. For purposes of reconciliation to U.S. GAAP, the Company will record, subject to remeasurement as the options vest, additional compensation expense of approximately $15,000 [2000—$121,000, 1999—$18,000] in respect of options granted to non-employees in future periods.

    [e]
    Under U.S. GAAP, short-term investments are classified as available for sale and carried at market values with unrealized gains or losses reflected as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

    [f]
    Under Canadian GAAP the effect of the change in accounting policy described in note 3[b] is recorded on a retroactive basis as an adjustment to prior years' reported losses. Under U.S. GAAP, the cumulative effect of the change is recorded as an adjustment to the current year's reported net loss.

100


        The effect of the above on the Company's consolidated financial statements is set out below:

Consolidated statements of loss and deficit

 
  Years ended November 30
 
 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

 
Loss for year, Canadian GAAP   (7,157,885 ) (6,495,636 ) (4,451,320 )
Adjustment to eliminate retroactive change in accounting policy [note 16[f]]     1,499,598    
Amortization of other assets [note 16[a]]   (102,720 )    
Adjustment for stock-based compensation              
  —employees   (44,100 ) (28,400 )  
  —non-employees   (35,000 ) (179,500 ) (51,000 )
   
 
 
 
Loss for the year, U.S. GAAP before cumulative effect of change in accounting policy   (7,339,705 ) (5,203,938 ) (4,502,320 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy [note 16[f]]   (1,499,598 )    
   
 
 
 
Loss for the year, U.S. GAAP   (8,839,303 ) (5,203,938 ) (4,502,320 )
Reclassification adjustment for unrealized gains on short-term investments   (117,662 )    
Unrealized gains on investments   29,591   117,662    
   
 
 
 
Comprehensive loss for the year, U.S. GAAP   (8,927,374 ) (5,086,276 ) (4,502,320 )
   
 
 
 
Loss for the year, U.S. GAAP   (8,839,303 ) (5,203,938 ) (4,502,320 )
   
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, U.S. GAAP   10,304,579   9,359,210   6,707,933  
   
 
 
 
Loss per common share, U.S. GAAP:              
  Before change in accounting policy   (0.71 ) (0.56 ) (0.67 )
  Change in accounting policy   (0.15 )    
   
 
 
 
Loss per common share, U.S. GAAP   (0.86 ) (0.56 ) (0.67 )
   
 
 
 

Balance sheets

        Material variations in balance sheet accounts under U.S. GAAP are as follows:

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

 
Cash and cash equivalents[e]   1,385,101   3,256,629  
Short-term investments[e]   2,828,070   7,080,173  
Other assets[a]   1,861,529   2,009,018  
Deferred revenue[f]   1,348,374    
Share capital[b]   30,966,393   30,950,393  
Accumulated other comprehensive income[e]   29,591   117,662  
Contributed surplus[b, c, d]   3,311,516   3,096,416  
Deficit[a, f]   (30,905,080 ) (22,065,777 )
   
 
 

17.  SEGMENTED INFORMATION

        The Company operates primarily in one business segment with all of its assets and operations located in Canada. All of the Company's revenues are generated in Canada. During the year ended

101



November 30, 2001, 92% and 8% of research collaborative, licensing and option fees are derived from 2 collaborators in Sweden and United States, respectively [November 30, 2000—75% from one collaborator in Sweden; November 30, 1999—95% from one collaborator in Switzerland].

18.  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT / GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

        [a]  Research and development expenses comprise:

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

Consulting and other   1,135,011   748,349   457,676
Lab supplies and operating facility   846,949   873,720   626,321
Salaries and benefits   1,430,766   1,313,371   1,211,697
Research and development agreements   2,086,112   1,797,216   1,289,899
   
 
 
    5,498,838   4,732,656   3,585,593
   
 
 

        [b]  General and administrative expenses comprise:

 
  2001
$

  2000
$

  1999
$

Consulting and professional fees   538,630   314,562   191,509
Office and miscellaneous   530,827   668,414   317,197
Salaries and benefits   577,117   478,181   406,796
Travel and other   94,619   107,887   82,388
   
 
 
    1,741,193   1,569,044   997,890
   
 
 

19.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

        The following events occurred subsequent to November 30, 2001:

    [a]
    On December 21, 2001, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement with Paralex, Inc., a U.S. private company, whereby the Company will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Paralex, Inc. in exchange for common shares of the Company.

      On February 15, 2002, the shareholders approved the acquisition of Paralex, Inc. and authorized the directors to consolidate the shares on a four for one basis, subject to regulatory approval, and continue the Company under the Canada Business Corporation Act. All share capital, options, warrants and per share amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been retroactively restated to reflect the share consolidation.

      Costs incurred as at November 30, 2001 of $155,075 in connection with this agreement have been deferred.

      On March 8, 2002, the Company completed the acquisition of Paralex and issued 8,203,396 common shares of the Company.

    [b]
    The Company granted 25,000 options to acquire common shares at a weighted average exercise price of $3.00 per share expiring through December 12, 2007. In addition, 16,875 options to acquire common shares of the Company were forfeited at a weighted average exercise price of $4.96 per share expiring through November 26, 2007.

    [c]
    On March 8, 2002, the Company issued, pursuant to public offering, 9,309,657 units at a price of $3.32 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share of the Company and one quarter of a common share purchase warrant. Each whole common share purchase warrant entitles

102


      the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $6.64, exercisable through March 8, 2004. The gross proceeds of the offering were $30,908,061 (before agents' fees of $2,163,564 and other expenses of approximately $500,000). In addition, the Company granted the agent warrants to acquire 930,966 units for $3.80 per unit until March 8, 2004.

    [d]
    Subsequent to year end, the Company renewed its current operating lease premises agreement, with a total commitment of $521,560 through March 2004.

    [e]
    On March 28, 2002 the Company announced that it had received notice from AstraZeneca that AstraZeneca does not intend to proceed with clinical development of the Company's RSD1122 compound and accordingly will terminate the license agreement [see note 13].

103



Financial Statements


Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

(Expressed in U.S. dollars)

November 30, 2001

104




AUDITORS' REPORT

To the Board of Directors of
Paralex, Inc.

        We have audited the balance sheet of Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) (the "Company") as at November 30, 2001 and the statements of loss and comprehensive loss, shareholders' deficit and cash flows for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian and U.S. generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

        In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at November 30, 2001 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001 in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

Vancouver, Canada,
December 21, 2001.
  GRAPHIC

Chartered Accountants

Comments by Auditor on Canada-United States Reporting Difference

        United States reporting standards for auditors require the addition of an explanatory paragraph when the financial statements are affected by conditions and events that cast substantial doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, such as those described in note 1 to the financial statements. Although we conducted our audits in accordance with both Canadian and U.S. generally accepted auditing standards, our report to the Board of Directors dated December 21, 2001 is expressed in accordance with Canadian standards which do not permit a reference to such conditions and events in the auditors' report when these are adequately disclosed in the financial statements.

Vancouver, Canada,
December 21, 2001.
  GRAPHIC

Chartered Accountants

105



Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

BALANCE SHEET
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

 
  As at November 30
2001
$

 
 
  (expressed in U.S. dollars)

 
ASSETS      

Current

 

 

 
Cash   23,042  
   
 
Total current assets   23,042  
   
 
Other assets [note 4]   354,148  
   
 
    377,190  
   
 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

 

 

 

Current

 

 

 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   513,624  
   
 
Total current liabilities   513,624  
   
 
Long-term debt [note 5]   100,000  

Commitments
[note 7]

 

 

 

Shareholders' deficit [note 6]

 

 

 
Common shares—par value $0.001
    Authorized—20,000,000
    Issued and outstanding—4,000,000
  4,000  
Preferred shares—par value $0.001, issuable in series
    Authorized—5,000,000
    Issued and outstanding—nil
   
Deficit   (240,434 )
   
 
Total shareholders' deficit   (236,434 )
   
 
    377,190  
   
 

On behalf of the Board:

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Mark C. Rogers"
Director

 

"Fred H. Mermelstein"
Director

See accompanying notes

106



Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENT OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

 
  For the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30,
2001
$

 
  (expressed in U.S. dollars)

EXPENSES    
General and administrative [note 5]   233,982
Amortization   6,452
   
Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period   240,434
   

Loss per common share—basic and dilutive

 

0.06
   

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding

 

3,710,000
   

See accompanying notes

107



Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

For the period from January 26, 2001
(date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001

(expressed in U.S. dollars)

 
  Common shares
   
   
 
 
  Deficit
$

  Total
$

 
 
  #
  $
 
Balance, January 26, 2001          
Shares issued for cash [note 6]   3,400,000   3,400     3,400  
Shares issued for license [note 6]   600,000   600     600  
Net loss for the period       (240,434 ) (240,434 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance, November 30, 2001   4,000,000   4,000   (240,434 ) (236,434 )
   
 
 
 
 

See accompanying notes

108



Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
[See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]

For the period from January 26, 2001
(date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001

 
  $
 
 
  (expressed in U.S. dollars)

 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
Net loss for the period   (240,434 )
Adjustments for non-cash items:      
  Amortization   6,452  
Changes in non-cash working capital items:      
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   203,624  
   
 
Cash used in operating activities   (30,358 )
   
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES      
Increase in intangible assets   (50,000 )
   
 
Cash used in investing activities   (50,000 )
   
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
Proceeds from issuance of common shares   3,400  
Proceeds from long-term debt   100,000  
   
 
Cash provided by financing activities   103,400  
   
 
Increase in cash, during the period   23,042  
Cash, beginning of period    
   
 
Cash, end of period   23,042  
   
 
Supplemental cash flow information:      
Interest paid   1,468  
Common shares issued for intangible assets   600  
   
 

See accompanying notes

109



Paralex, Inc.
(a development stage enterprise)

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

November 30,2001

(expressed in U.S. dollars)

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) (the "Company") was incorporated on January 26, 2001 under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Company is involved in the research and development of oxypurinol for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The Company is a development stage enterprise and commercial operations have not yet commenced. The Company's year end is December 31.

        The Company's financial statements for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001 have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business for the foreseeable future. The Company incurred a net loss of $240,434 for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001 and has a working capital deficiency of $490,582 and accumulated deficit of $240,434 as at November 30, 2001. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company has financed its cash requirements primarily from share issuances and long-term debt. The ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon successfully bringing its technologies to the market, achieving future profitable operations and obtaining sources of financing to sustain its operations. The Company is in the process of negotiating the sale of all of its outstanding shares to a Canadian public company [note 9[i]]. The outcome of these matters cannot be predicted at this time. No assurances can be given that adequate financing or financing on acceptable terms can be obtained in the future or that the pending sale will be completed. In the event the Company cannot obtain the necessary funds, it will be necessary to delay, curtail or cancel further development of its technologies. These financial statements do not include any adjustments to the carrying values and classifications of assets and liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue in business.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        The Company prepares its accounts in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are not materially different from Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.

        The following is a summary of significant accounting policies used in the preparation of these financial statements.

Use of estimates

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and notes thereto. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

License costs

        The Company capitalizes costs paid to obtain licenses. The cost of licenses is amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated useful life of ten years.

110


        The Company monitors the recoverability of license costs, based upon estimates using factors such as future asset utilization, business climate and future non-discounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the related assets or to be realized on sale. The Company's policy is to write down assets to their fair value in the period when it is likely that the carrying amount of the asset will not be recovered.

Loss per common share

        Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. There are no anti-dilutive securities, therefore basic and diluted loss per common share are the same.

Recent pronouncements

        The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a new standard (SFAS 142), entitled Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Intangible assets other than goodwill acquired in a business combination or other transaction for which the acquisition date is after June 30, 2001 are to be amortized based on the useful life to an enterprise, unless the life is determined to be indefinite in which case the intangible asset will not be amortized. SFAS 142 will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning January 1, 2003. The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS 142 will have a material effect on the financial statements.

3. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

        For certain of the Company's financial instruments including cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and long-term debt, the carrying values approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.

4. OTHER ASSETS

 
  Cost
$

  Accumulated
amortization
$

  Net book
value
$

2001            
Licenses   360,600   6,452   354,148
   
 
 
Total   360,600   6,452   354,148
   
 
 

5. LONG-TERM DEBT

 
  2001
$

Bank of America revolving credit facility bearing interest at a fixed rate of 4.40% per annum, repayable on December 20, 2002, interest payable monthly   100,000
   
    100,000
   

111


        Interest expense for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001 amounted to $1,468.

        On November 1, 2001, the Company entered into a loan agreement whereby the available balance under the revolving credit facility was increased to $210,000 at a fixed interest of 4.40% per annum. The maturity date of the loan was extended from July 20, 2002 to December 20, 2002.

        In accordance with the loan agreement, any change in ownership of 25% or more of the Company's common stock constitutes a default of the loan agreement, whereby all amounts outstanding will be payable immediately.

        The loan is personally guaranteed by one of the Company's executive officers.

6. SHARE CAPITAL

        The directors of the Company will designate the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of each series of Preferred Shares.

        On January 31, 2001, the directors approved the increase in authorized share capital from 5,000,000 common shares to 20,000,000 common shares with a par value of $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.001 per share, issuable in series.

        On February 1, 2001, the Company issued 3,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.001 per share, for gross cash proceeds of $3,000.

        On April 14, 2001, the Company issued, in exchange for an exclusive patent with respect to certain technology, 600,000 common shares to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the inventor of the technology. The exchange has been recorded at $600 which reflects the fair value of the common shares issued.

        On May 14, 2001, the Company issued 400,000 common shares at a price of $0.001 per share, for gross cash proceeds of $400.

7. COMMITMENTS

[i]
Pursuant to a license agreement, the Company is responsible for the payment of royalties based on a percentage of revenue and subject to certain minimum annual royalties commencing at $5,000 and increasing over the next five years to $100,000 per annum. The Company also has an obligation to develop and introduce certain licensed products into commercial markets as soon as it is practicable. The agreement sets out certain milestones that need to be met in ensuring that this occurs.

    In addition, the Company is required to obtain $3 million of financing within 11 months and $5 million of financing within 18 months of the agreement.

    The patent agreement may be terminated if either party fails to perform or breaches any of its obligations under the agreement. Furthermore the Company may terminate the agreement for any

112



    reason upon giving 60 days written notice. Unless otherwise terminated, the agreement expires upon the expiration of the last issued patent.

[ii]
In June 2001, and as amended in December 2001, the Company entered into a license and option agreement with ILEX Oncology, Inc. ("ILEX") comprising a license and sublicense for the exclusive worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of certain oxypurinol compounds held by ILEX. As part of the agreement, ILEX granted the Company an exclusive one year option to acquire ownership of and full rights to use certain data sublicensed by ILEX from a third party. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company agreed to pay ILEX an initial fee of $250,000, included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, upon execution of the agreement and a further $250,000 upon the exercise of the option. The Company further agreed to pay ILEX additional milestone payments of up to $8 million based on the completion of phase II clinical trials, FDA approval of the first new drug application and FDA approval for marketing and commercialization of the product. The Company has also agreed to pay royalties based on future net sales. Unless otherwise terminated, the license agreement will terminate upon the expiration of ILEX's obligation to pay royalties under its original license agreement.

[iii]
In May 2001, the Company entered into a consulting agreement with Cardiosciences Consulting Inc., whereby Cardiosciences Consulting Inc. will provide consulting services for $100,000 per year, from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2005.

8. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        No compensation has been paid or is owing to directors or officers of the Company in respect of services rendered to November 30, 2001. Certain of the Company's directors and officers serve as directors and officers of Paramount Capital, Inc. ("Paramount"). Paramount has provided certain administrative services to the Company to November 30, 2001 for nil consideration.

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

[i]
On December 21, 2001, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement with Cardiome Pharma Corp. ("Cardiome"), a Canadian public company, whereby Cardiome will acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company in exchange for approximately 33,300,000 common shares of Cardiome, based on a formula but not to exceed approximately 43,000,000 common shares. The acquisition is subject to, among other matters, approval from the shareholders of Cardiome and applicable regulatory agencies.

[ii]
In December 2001, the Company drew an additional $110,000 on its revolving credit facility [note 5].

113



PARALEX, INC.
(a development stage enterprise)

BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)

 
  As at
 
 
  February 28,
2002

  November 30,
2001

 
 
  (Unaudited)

  (Audited)

 
ASSETS              

Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Cash   $ 35,201   $ 23,042  
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $15,467; November 30, 2001—$6,452     345,133     354,148  
   
 
 
    $ 380,334   $ 377,190  
   
 
 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   $ 210,351   $ 513,624  
Long-term debt (Note 3)     490,000     100,000  
   
 
 
Total Liabilities     700,351     613,624  
   
 
 

Shareholders' deficit (Note 4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Common shares—par value $0.001              
  Authorized—20,000,000
Issued and outstanding—4,000,000
    4,000     4,000  
Preferred shares—par value $0.001, issuable in series              
  Authorized—5,000,000
Issued and outstanding—nil
             
Deficit     (324,017 )   (240,434 )
   
 
 
      (320,017 )   (236,434 )
   
 
 
    $ 380,334   $ 377,190  
   
 
 
On behalf of the Board:    

 

 

 

/s/ Mark C. Rogers

Mark C. Rogers, Director

 

/s/ Fred H. Mermelstein

Fred H. Mermelstein, Director

See accompanying notes

114



PARALEX, INC.
(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND DEFICIT

(unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)

 
  Three months
ended February 28,
2002

  Period from
incorporation on
January 26, 2001
to February 28,
2001

  Period from
incorporation on
January 26, 2001
to February 28,
2002

Expenses                  
  Research and development   $ 25,000   $   $ 25,000
  General and administrative     49,568     4,140     283,550
  Amortization     9,015         15,467
   
 
 
      83,583     4,140     324,017
   
 
 

Net and comprehensive loss for the period

 

 

83,583

 

 

4,140

 

 

324,017

Deficit, beginning of period

 

 

240,434

 

 


 

 

   
 
 
Deficit, end of period   $ 324,017   $ 4,140   $ 324,017
   
 
 

Basic and diluted net loss per common share

 

$

0.02

 

$


 

$

 
   
 
 

Weighted average number of outstanding shares

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

2,470,588

 

 

 
   
 
     

See accompanying notes

115



PARALEX, INC.

(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT

For the period from January 26, 2001
(date of incorporation) to February 28, 2002

 
  Common shares
   
   
 
 
  Deficit
$

  Total
$

 
 
  #
  $
 
 
  (unaudited—expressed in U.S. dollars)

 
Balance, January 26, 2001          
Shares issued for cash [note 4]   3,400,000   3,400     3,400  
Shares issued for license [note 4]   600,000   600     600  
Net loss for the period       (324,017 ) (324,017 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance, February 28, 2002 and November 30, 2001   4,000,000   4,000   (324,017 ) (320,017 )
   
 
 
 
 

See accompanying notes

116



PARALEX, INC.

(a development stage enterprise)

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 
  Three months ended
February 28, 2002

  Period from
incorporation
on January 26, 2001
to February 28, 2001

  Period from
incorporation
on January 26, 2001
to February 28, 2002

 
 
  (unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)

 
Operating Activities                    
  Loss for the period   $ (83,583 ) $ (4,140 )   (324,017 )
  Add item not affecting cash                    
    Amortization     9,015         15,467  
   
 
 
 
      (74,568 )   (4,140 )   (308,550 )
  Changes in non-cash working capital components                    
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (303,273 )   4,140     210,351  
   
 
 
 
  Cash used in operating activities     (377,841 )       (98,199 )
   
 
 
 
Financing Activities                    
  Proceeds from issuance of common shares         3,000     3,400  
  Proceeds from long-term debt     390,000         490,000  
   
 
 
 
  Cash provided by financing activities     390,000     3,000     493,400  
   
 
 
 
Investing activities                    
  Increase in intangible assets             (360,000 )
   
 
 
 
Cash used in investing activities             (360,000 )
   
 
 
 
Increase in cash during the period     12,159     3,000     35,201  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     23,042          
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 35,201   $ 3,000   $ 35,201  
   
 
 
 

Supplemental information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest paid     2,743         4,211  
  Common shares issued for intangible assets             600  

See accompanying notes

117



PARALEX, INC.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)

1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) (the "Company") was incorporated on January 26, 2001 under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The Company is involved in the research and development of oxypurinol for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The Company is a development stage enterprise and commercial operations have not yet commenced.

        The accompanying unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information consistent with the Company's most recent annual audited financial statements for the period ended November 30, 2001. These interim financial statements and notes do not include all disclosures required for annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements of the Company.

        In the opinion of management, all material adjustments (including reclassification and normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows have been made. Interim financial results are not necessarily indicative of financial results for the full year.

        The continuation of the Company's research and development activities and the commercialization of the targeted therapeutic products are dependent upon the Company's ability to successfully complete its research and development programs and finance its cash requirements through a combination of financial support from its parent company, equity financing, and payments from potential strategic partners.

2. NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

        Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. There are no anti-dilutive securities, therefore basic and diluted loss per common share are the same.

3. LONG-TERM DEBT

 
  February 28,
2002
$

  November 30,
2001
$

Bank of America revolving credit facility bearing interest at a fixed rate of 4.40% per annum, repayable on January 20, 2003, interest payable monthly   490,000   100,000
   
 
    490,000   100,000
   
 

        Interest expense for the three months ended February 28, 2002 amounted to $2,743 (2001—$nil; for the period from incorporation to February 28, 2002—$4,211).

        On November 1, 2001, the Company entered into a loan agreement whereby the available balance under the revolving credit facility was increased from $100,000 to $210,000 at a fixed interest of 4.40% per annum. The maturity date of the loan was extended from July 20, 2002 to December 20, 2002.

        On January 30, 2002, the Company entered into another loan agreement whereby the available balance under the revolving credit facility was increased from $210,000 to $490,000 at a fixed interest of

118


4.40% per annum. The maturity date of the loan was also extended from December 20, 2002 to January 20, 2003.

        In accordance with the loan agreement, any change in ownership of 25% or more of the Company's common stock constitutes a default of the loan agreement, whereby all amounts outstanding will be payable immediately.

        The loan is personally guaranteed by one of the Company's executive officers.

4. SHARE CAPITAL

        The directors of the Company will designate the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of each series of Preferred Shares.

        On January 31, 2001, the directors approved the increase in authorized share capital from 5,000,000 common shares to 20,000,000 common shares with a par value of $0.001 per share and 5,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.001 per share, issuable in series.

        On February 1, 2001, the Company issued 3,000,000 common shares at a price of $0.001 per share, for gross cash proceeds of $3,000.

        On April 14, 2001, the Company issued, in exchange for an exclusive patent with respect to certain technology, 600,000 common shares to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the inventor of the technology. The exchange has been recorded at $600 which reflects the fair value of the common shares issued.

        On May 14, 2001, the Company issued 400,000 common shares at a price of $0.001 per share, for gross cash proceeds of $400.

5. SUBSEQUENT EVENT

        On March 8, 2002, pursuant to an acquisition agreement, Cardiome Pharma Corp. ("Cardiome"), a Canadian public company, acquired all of the outstanding shares of the Company in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares of Cardiome.

119




Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Loss
Cardiome Pharma Corp.
Unaudited
(Expressed in Canadian dollars)
For the year ended November 30, 2001 and the nine months ended August 31, 2002

120



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)


PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS

 
  For the year ended November 30, 2001
 
 
  Cardiome
Pharma
Corp.
$

  Paralex,
Inc.
$

  Pro forma
adjustments
$

  Note
  Pro forma
consolidated
statement
of loss
$

 
 
  Unaudited
(expressed in Canadian dollars)

 
REVENUE                      
Research, collaborative, licensing and option fees   197,028           197,028  
Grant income   88,137           88,137  
Interest and other income   347,078           347,078  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    632,243           632,243  
   
 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES                      
Research and development   5,498,838           5,498,838  
General and administration   1,741,193   365,577         2,106,770  
Amortization   550,097   10,004   2,950,000   [2c]   3,510,101  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    7,790,128   375,581   2,950,000       11,115,709  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes   (7,157,885 ) (375,581 ) (2,950,000 )     (10,483,466 )
Deferred income tax recovery       10,000   [2c]   10,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss for the period   (7,157,885 ) (375,581 ) (2,940,000 )     (10,473,466 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Loss per common share—basic and diluted   (0.69 ) (0.10 )     [2b]   (0.38 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding   10,304,579   3,710,000       [2b]   27,879,515  

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of loss

121



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)


PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS

 
  For the nine months ended August 31, 2002
 
 
  Cardiome
Pharma
Corp.
$

  Paralex,
Inc.
$

  Pro forma
adjustments
$

  Note
  Pro forma
consolidated
statement
of loss
$

 
 
  Unaudited
(expressed in Canadian dollars)

 
REVENUE                      
Research, collaborative, licensing and option fees   1,390,237           1,390,237  
Grant income   36,000           36,000  
Interest and other income   385,400           385,400  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    1,811,637           1,811,637  
   
 
 
 
 
 
EXPENSES                      
Research and development   6,583,883   39,270         6,623,153  
General and administration   2,395,760   103,198         2,498,958  
Amortization   1,853,116   14,161   784,000   [2c]   2,651,277  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    10,832,759   156,629   784,000       11,773,388  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Loss before income taxes   (9,021,122 ) (156,629 ) (784,000 )     (9,961,751 )
Deferred income tax recovery   100,000           100,000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss for the period   (8,921,122 ) (156,629 ) (784,000 )     (9,861,751 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Loss per common share—basic and diluted   (0.41 )       [2b]   (0.35 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding   21,983,135         [2b]   28,296,821  
   
 
 
 
 
 

See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of loss

122



Cardiome Pharma Corp.
(formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Corp.)

NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF LOSS

1.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION

        On March 8, 2002, Cardiome Pharma Corp. ("Cardiome") acquired 100% of the outstanding common shares of Paralex, Inc. ("Paralex") in exchange for 8,203,396 common shares of Cardiome. The total purchase price was $28,879,787, including transaction costs of $1,316,387. One of the conditions to the acquisition agreement was the completion of an equity financing by Cardiome of at least $16,084,000. On March 8, 2002 Cardiome completed a public offering for gross proceeds of $30,908,061 resulting in the issuance of 9,309,657 common shares and warrants to acquire 930,966 common shares.

        The accompanying pro forma consolidated statements of loss have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and derived from audited financial statements of Paralex for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001, the unaudited financial statements of Paralex for the three months ended February 28, 2002, the audited consolidated financial statements of Cardiome for the year ended November 30, 2001, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements of Cardiome for the nine months ended August 31, 2002 (which includes the operations of Paralex for the six months ended August 31, 2002). These pro-forma consolidated statements of loss are presented as if the transactions discussed above had taken place on December 1, 2000. The accounting policies used in the preparation of the pro forma consolidated statements of loss are those disclosed in Cardiome's audited consolidated financial statements. Management has determined that no adjustments are necessary to conform Paralex's financial statements with the accounting policies used by Cardiome in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements.

        The pro forma consolidated statements of loss are not necessarily indicative of the results that actually would have been achieved if the transactions reflected therein had been completed on the dates indicated or the results which may be obtained in the future. In preparing these pro forma consolidated statements of loss, no adjustments have been made to reflect the operating benefits and general and administrative cost savings expected to result from combining the operations of Cardiome and Paralex.

        The pro forma consolidated statements of loss should be read in conjunction with the description of the acquisition in Cardiome's Annual Report on Form 20-F/A ("Annual Report"), the audited and unaudited financial statements of Paralex, and the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of Cardiome, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in the Annual Report.

        A pro forma consolidated balance sheet is not provided as the transactions are reflected in the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Cardiome as at August 31, 2002.

2.    PRO FORMA ASSUMPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS

        The audited and unaudited statements of loss of Paralex were reported in U.S. dollars. For purposes of the pro forma consolidated statement of loss for the year ended November 30, 2001, the income and expense items of Paralex were translated into Canadian dollars using the average exchange rate for the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001. For purposes of the pro forma consolidated statement of loss for the nine months ended August 31, 2002, the income and expense items of Paralex for the three months ended February 28, 2002 were translated into Canadian dollars using an average exchange rate for the period.

123



        The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.

        The purchase price has been allocated to the fair value of Paralex's identifiable net assets and liabilities in accordance with the purchase method as follows:

 
  $
Assets acquired:    
Cash   624
Other assets   560,368
Technology   29,497,408
   
Total assets acquired   30,058,400
   
Less liabilities assumed:    
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities   355,502
Long-term debt   723,111
Deferred tax liability   100,000
   
Total liabilities assumed   1,178,613
   
Net assets acquired   28,879,787
   
Consideration given:    
8,203,396 common shares   27,563,400
Transaction costs   1,316,387
   
Total consideration   28,879,787
   

        Cardiome is in the process of completing its valuation of the assets and liabilities acquired from Paralex and therefore the allocation of the purchase price on a preliminary basis. Of the net assets acquired, approximately $29.5 million has been allocated to intellectual property ("Technology") comprising licenses, know-how and pre-clinical and clinical data all relating to the use and application of a drug compound, Oxypurinol. The Technology has been capitalized because Cardiome believes Oxypurinol has alternative future use since it can be used in at least two applications: the treatment of gout and the treatment of congestive heart failure. Cardiome will continue the research and development activities with respect to the application of Oxypurinol in the treatment of gout to which Paralex holds the rights. The application of Oxypurinol for the treatment of congestive heart failure represents a future research and development program that the Company will pursue upon the completion of the acquisition. Prior to the acquisition, Paralex did not undertake any substantial research and development activities to advance this application of Oxypurinol with respect to its application to the treatment of congestive heart failure..

        The Technology will be amortized to income on a straight-line basis over ten years. Paralex's long-term debt becomes payable on demand in the event of a change in ownership of 25% or more and was repaid with the proceeds of the equity financing.

        The following adjustments have been made to reflect the transaction described above:

    [a]
    To reflect the acquisition of Paralex's net assets in exchange for common shares and related transaction costs.

    [b]
    The pro forma loss per share have been calculated based on the total weighted average number of common shares held by shareholders of Cardiome during the period and 8,203,396 common shares assumed to be issued to effect the acquisition at December 1, 2000 and 9,309,657 common shares assumed to be issued related to the equity financing on December 1, 2000.

    [c]
    To reflect the amortization of Technology and related deferred tax liability over ten years.

124


3.    RECONCILIATION OF GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

        The Company prepares the pro forma consolidated statements of loss in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles ("Canadian GAAP"), which, as applied in these consolidated statements of loss, conform in all material respects to United States generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP"), except as follows:

        Pro forma consolidated statements of loss    

 
  Nine months
ended
August 31,
2002
$

  Year ended
November 30,
2001
$

 
Loss for the period, Canadian GAAP   (9,861,751 ) (10,473,466 )
Amortization of other assets   (77,040 ) (102,720 )
Adjustment for stock-based compensation          
  —employees   (80,000 ) (44,100 )
  —non-employees   (68,299 ) (35,000 )
   
 
 
Loss for the period, U.S. GAAP before cumulative effect of change in accounting policy   (10,087,090 ) (10,655,286 )
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policy     (1,499,598 )
   
 
 
Loss for the period, U.S. GAAP   (10,087,090 ) (12,154,884 )
Reclassification adjustment for unrealized gains on short-term investments   (29,591 ) (117,662 )
Unrealized gains on investments   167,501   29,591  
   
 
 
Comprehensive loss for the period, U.S. GAAP   (9,949,180 ) (12,242,955 )
   
 
 
Loss for the period, U.S. GAAP   (10,087,090 ) (12,154,884 )
   
 
 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, U.S. GAAP   28,296,821   27,879,515  
   
 
 
Loss per common share, U.S. GAAP:          
Before change in accounting policy   (0.36 ) (0.39 )
Change in accounting policy     (0.05 )
   
 
 
Loss per common share, U.S. GAAP   (0.36 ) (0.44 )
   
 
 

125



EXHIBIT LIST

Exhibit Number
  Name of Exhibit

1.1   Articles of Continuance of the Company(1)
1.2   By-Laws of the Company(2)
2.1   Form of Company's common share certificate.(3)
4.1   License agreement dated March 29, 1996 with the University of British Columbia(4)
4.2   Research Agreement dated March 1, 1997 with the University of British Columbia(5)
4.3   Agreement dated November 19, 1997 with Drs. MacLeod and Quastel(6)
4.4   Agreement dated October 16, 2000 with AstraZeneca(7)
4.5*   Collaborative Research and License Agreement dated November 30, 2000 with Antalium Inc.
4.6   Investment Agreement dated May 24, 2000 with FutureFund Capital (VCC) Corp.(8)
4.7   Employment Agreement dated March 19, 1998 and subsequent Amendment Agreement dated March 20, 2001 with Mr. Robert Rieder.(9)
4.8   Employment Agreement dated November 24, 1998 with Dr. Gregory Beatch.(10)
4.9*   Employment Agreement dated June 5, 2001 with Dr. Alan M. Ezrin. 4.10 2001 share option plan(11)
4.11*   Introduction Agreement dated August 10, 2001 with Paramount Capital, Inc.
4.12*   Acquisition Agreement dated December 21, 2001 with Paralex, Inc. and Cardiome, Inc.
4.13*   Agency Agreement dated February 28, 2002 with Sprott Securities Inc. and Raymond James Ltd.
4.14*   License agreement dated April 18, 2001, as amended by agreement dated October 18, 2001 between Paralex and The Johns Hopkins University.
4.15*   License agreement dated December 19, 2001 between Paralex and ILEX Oncology, Inc.
4.16*   Agreement dated May 2001 and dated as of January 1, 2002 between Paralex and Cardiosciences Consulting, Inc.
4.17   Common Share Purchase Warrant Indenture dated March 8, 2002 (including form of warrant)(12)
4.18   Form of warrant dated March 8, 2002 (included in Exhibit 4.17).(13)
4.19   Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Paramount Capital, Inc.(14)
4.20*   Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Sprott Securities Inc.
4.21*   Warrant dated March 8, 2002 issued to Raymond James Ltd.
4.22   Form of Subscription Agreement(15)
4.23   Registration Rights Agreement dated March 8, 2002(16)
8.1*   Subsidiaries of Company
10.1**   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Chartered Accountants
99.1**   Certification of CEO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
99.2**   Certification of CFO pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Notes:

*
Filed as an exhibit to our Form 20-F for the year ended November 30, 2001 dated April 26, 2002 and filed on April 26, 2002 (which Form 20-F is being amended by this Form 20-F/A).

**
Filed herewith.

(1)
Filed as exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002).

126


(2)
Filed as exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(3)
Filed as exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(4)
Filed as exhibit No. 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-29338 filed on August 22, 1997).

(5)
Filed as exhibit No. 3.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 0-29338 filed on August 22, 1997).

(6)
Filed as exhibit 2.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997 (File No. 0-29338).

(7)
Filed as exhibit 4.8 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed on June 4, 2001). Certain portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the Commission pursuant to an application for confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(8)
Filed as exhibit 4.11 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(9)
Filed as exhibit 4.12 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(10)
Filed as exhibit 4.13 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed June 4, 2001).

(11)
Filed as exhibit 4.9 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000 (File No. 0-29338 filed on June 4, 2001).

(12)
Filed as exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(13)
Filed as exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(14)
Filed as exhibit 4.6 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(15)
Filed as exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

(16)
Filed as exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-85922 filed on April 9, 2002)

127




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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CARDIOME PHARMA CORP.
PART I
CARDIOME CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Summary Pro Forma Financial Information
PART II
PART III
SIGNATURES
CERTIFICATIONS
AUDITORS' REPORT
Comments by Auditor for U.S. Readers on Canada-U.S. Reporting Difference
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.) Incorporated under the laws of British Columbia CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND DEFICIT [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.) CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.) NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30, 2001 (expressed in Canadian dollars)
Financial Statements
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) (Expressed in U.S. dollars) November 30, 2001
AUDITORS' REPORT
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) BALANCE SHEET [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENT OF LOSS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation] For the period from January 26, 2001 (date of incorporation) to November 30, 2001 (expressed in U.S. dollars)
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS [See Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation]
Paralex, Inc. (a development stage enterprise) NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS November 30,2001 (expressed in U.S. dollars)
PARALEX, INC. (a development stage enterprise) BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)
PARALEX, INC. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENTS OF LOSS AND DEFICIT (unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)
PARALEX, INC. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
PARALEX, INC. (a development stage enterprise) STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
PARALEX, INC. NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited—expressed in U.S. Dollars)
Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Loss Cardiome Pharma Corp. Unaudited (Expressed in Canadian dollars) For the year ended November 30, 2001 and the nine months ended August 31, 2002
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Inc.)
PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF LOSS
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (formerly Nortran Pharmaceuticals Corp.) NOTES TO PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS
EXHIBIT LIST