Cadence Pharmaceuticals Reports First Quarter 2008 Financial Results and Provides Clinical Program Update.

Phase III Clinical Trial of Acetavance(TM) for the Treatment of Fever Achieves Primary Endpoint

Phase III Clinical Trial of Omigard(TM) Completes Patient Enrollment

SAN DIEGO, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , a biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing and commercializing proprietary product candidates principally for use in the hospital setting, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 and provided an update on the clinical development programs for its product candidates Acetavance(TM), an intravenous formulation of acetaminophen, and Omigard(TM), a topical antimicrobial gel.

The company announced that a Phase III clinical trial of Acetavance successfully met its primary endpoint of achieving a more rapid onset of action in the treatment of fever compared to oral acetaminophen. In addition, Cadence announced that it completed its goal of enrolling 1,850 patients in its Phase III clinical trial of Omigard for the prevention of catheter-related infections.

"We are very pleased with the outcome of our second Phase III clinical trial for the treatment of fever in adults. In addition to the positive data from our first Phase III clinical trial of Acetavance in fever announced earlier this year, we believe that the results of this study further strengthen the value proposition for Acetavance," said Ted Schroeder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cadence. "We believe that there is a significant unmet need among patients and physicians in the hospital setting for a safe and effective treatment for pain and fever, particularly in cases where patients cannot take oral medication or require a more rapid onset of action."

"Reaching the patient enrollment target in our Phase III clinical trial of Omigard for the prevention of catheter-related infections is a major milestone in our clinical development program for this product candidate," stated James Breitmeyer, M.D., Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Development and Chief Medical Officer of Cadence. "If approved, we believe that Omigard will address a rapidly growing need for more effective ways to lower hospital acquired infection rates, including the dangerous and costly complications from infections related to intravascular catheters."

Cadence's second clinical trial of Acetavance for the treatment of fever in adults, designated Study 303, was a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, single-dose study of intravenous acetaminophen (1 gram) compared to oral acetaminophen (1 gram) for the treatment of fever in 81 adult volunteers with experimentally-induced fever. In this study, a statistically significant difference in favor of Acetavance was observed compared to oral acetaminophen for the primary efficacy endpoint of WSTD2 (the weighted sum of temperature differences over two hours) (p< 0.01). The mean temperature scores for patients in the Acetavance-treated group were significantly lower as early as 15 minutes after the study drug was administered. The peak temperature observed in the Acetavance group of patients was also significantly lower. Acetavance was very well tolerated, including no treatment-emergent serious adverse events or treatment-emergent hepatic adverse events.

Cadence's confirmatory Phase III clinical trial of Omigard (omiganan pentahydrochloride 1% gel), known as the Central Line Infection Reduction Study, or CLIRS, is a randomized, evaluator-blinded study in hospitalized patients whose medical condition requires a short-term central venous catheter. The primary objective of CLIRS is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Omigard compared to 10% povidone-iodine in reducing local catheter site infections. The company achieved its goal of enrolling 1,850 patients at 58 clinical trial sites in the United States and Europe. CLIRS is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

First Quarter 2008 Financial Results

For the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, Cadence reported a net loss of $13.7 million, or $0.42 per share, compared to a net loss of $9.6 million, or $0.34 per share, for the same period in 2007.

As of March 31, 2008, Cadence held cash and cash equivalents of $91.4 million, which included proceeds from the registered direct offering completed in February 2008, pursuant to which Cadence issued and sold approximately 9.2 million shares of common stock at a price of $5.34 per share, and received net proceeds of approximately $49.1 million.

Operating expenses for the first quarter ended March 31, 2008, were $13.8 million, an increase of $3.4 million from the $10.4 million reported for the same period in 2007. This increase was primarily a result of $1.7 million of additional research and development costs related to ongoing Phase III clinical trials and pre-commercialization manufacturing development activities for Acetavance and Omigard. Other supporting costs for research and development activities increased $0.5 million, which included a $0.2 million increase in stock-based compensation.

In addition, the increased operating expenses were due to a $0.3 million increase in market research and personnel-related activities for Omigard, and an increase of $0.8 million in general and administrative expenses, including a $0.4 million increase in stock-based compensation charges.

  Acetavance(TM) Clinical Program Update

  o Following the announcement of results for Acetavance Studies 301 and
    302 in January 2008, Cadence initiated discussions with the FDA to
    determine if the company may need to conduct additional trials or modify
    its ongoing trials of this product candidate. Cadence currently expects
    to receive guidance from the FDA in the second quarter of 2008.
  o During the first quarter of 2008, Cadence also implemented several
    design enhancements to Study 304, a Phase III clinical trial of
    Acetavance for the treatment of acute pain in adults following abdominal
    laparoscopic surgery. The trial design modifications included tightening
    patient eligibility criteria, performing more frequent pain assessments
    and increasing control of opioid medications. Cadence currently expects
    to complete enrollment of this clinical trial in the third quarter of
    2008 and announce top-line data in the second half of 2008.
  o Also during the first quarter of 2008, Cadence initiated a multi-day
    safety study of Acetavance in adult patients and a multi-day safety
    study of Acetavance in pediatric patients.
  o Assuming the successful outcome of Cadence's planned clinical trials for
    Acetavance, and FDA concurrence with its proposed clinical development
    plan, the company currently expects to submit a 505(b)(2) New Drug
    Application (NDA) for this product candidate to the FDA in the first
    half of 2009.

                                                                 Enrollment
  Acetavance Clinical Trials                  Study      Phase     Status
  Treatment of pain following total
   knee & hip replacement                    Sinatra(1)   III     Completed
  Treatment of pain following abdominal
   gynecologic surgery                         301        III     Completed
  Treatment of fever in adults (vs. placebo)   302        III     Completed
  Treatment of fever in adults (onset
   of action)                                  303        III     Completed
  Adult pharmacokinetics                       101         I      Completed
  Treatment of pain following abdominal
   laparoscopic surgery                        304        III     Enrolling
  Adult safety                                 351        III     Enrolling
  Pediatric safety                             352        III     Enrolling
  Pediatric pharmacokinetics                   102         I      Enrolling

  (1)  Conducted by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

  Omigard(TM) Clinical Program Update

  o Cadence currently expects to announce top-line data from CLIRS in the
    second half of 2008 and, if the results are positive, submit an NDA for
    Omigard to the FDA in the first half of 2009.

Conference Call and Webcast on May 6, 2008 at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time)

Cadence management will host a conference call on May 6, 2008 at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time) and interested investors may participate in the conference call by dialing 877-675-4750 (domestic) or 719-325-4865 (international). To access the webcast, please visit the company's website at http://www.cadencepharm.com/ and go to the Investor Relations page. A replay of the webcast will be available approximately two hours after the call and remain available on the company's website until the next quarterly financial results call.

About Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cadence Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing, developing and commercializing proprietary product candidates principally for use in the hospital setting. The company currently has two Phase III product candidates in development, Acetavance(TM) (intravenous acetaminophen) for the treatment of acute pain and fever, and Omigard(TM) (omiganan pentahydrochloride 1% topical gel) for the prevention of catheter-related infections. For more information about Cadence's pipeline, visit http://www.cadencepharm.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the timeframes in which Cadence expects to complete enrollment in, and announce the results of, clinical trials of its product candidates; the timeframes in which Cadence anticipates filing submissions with regulatory authorities seeking marketing authorizations for its product candidates; the expected impact of clinical trial results on the market and clinical value of Cadence's product candidates; and the potential for Cadence's product candidates to address unmet medical needs. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Cadence that any of its plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Cadence's business, including, without limitation: the outcomes of final analyses of data from Cadence's clinical trials of its product candidates may vary from the company's initial analyses, and the FDA may not agree with Cadence's interpretation of such results; the company's clinical trials may produce negative or inconclusive results, or may be inconsistent with previously conducted clinical trials; Cadence may experience delays in completing its clinical trials or achieving its product development goals, or experience problems with the designs or execution of its clinical trials; the company may decide, or be required by FDA, to expand or modify its ongoing clinical trials or conduct additional clinical trials in order to support applications for market approval of its product candidates; the market demand for Cadence's product candidates, and their ability to compete with new or existing products, may be less than anticipated; the company's product candidates may have unanticipated adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy; Cadence may experience delays and increased costs with respect to completion of pre-commercialization manufacturing development activities, and may be required to perform additional pre-clinical or clinical testing as a result of changes to manufacturing processes for its product candidates; the company may require substantial additional funding to complete its clinical development programs and successfully launch its products, and it may not be able to raise sufficient capital when needed, or at all; and other risks detailed in Cadence's prior press releases as well as in Cadence's periodic public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Cadence undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Cadence(TM), Acetavance(TM) and Omigard(TM) are trademarks of Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

   Contacts:  William R. LaRue
              SVP & Chief Financial Officer
              Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
              858-436-1400

              Anna Gralinska
              Director, Investor Relations
              Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
              858-436-1452


                      CADENCE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                      (a development stage company)
                    CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                               (unaudited)

                                        Three Months Ended
                                             March 31,
                                      2008              2007
  Operating expenses:
    Research and development       $10,478,047      $8,241,804
    Marketing                          583,702         302,183
    General and administrative       2,667,038       1,827,592
    Other                               28,257               -
      Total operating expenses      13,757,044      10,371,579

  Loss from operations             (13,757,044)    (10,371,579)

  Other income (expense):
    Interest income                    550,380       1,031,890
    Interest expense                  (506,856)       (220,009)
    Other expense                       (3,395)              -
      Total other income, net           40,129         811,881

  Net loss                        $(13,716,915)    $(9,559,698)

  Basic and diluted net loss
   per share(1)                         $(0.42)         $(0.34)

  Shares used to compute basic
   and diluted net loss per
   share(1)                         32,921,093      28,402,352


  (1)  As a result of the issuance of 9,240,307 shares of common stock
       pursuant to an effective shelf registration in the first quarter of
       2008, there is a lack of comparability in the per share amounts
       between the 2008 and 2007 periods presented.



                      CADENCE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
                      (a development stage company)
                         CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

                                            March 31,        December 31,
                                              2008              2007
                                           (unaudited)
                 Assets

  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents              $91,443,447       $55,392,921
    Restricted cash                          1,981,848         1,981,848
    Prepaid expenses and other
     current assets                          1,211,887           959,321
      Total current assets                  94,637,182        58,334,090

  Property and equipment, net                5,280,094         5,139,538
  Restricted cash                              885,434           885,434
  Other assets                                 242,743           252,963
      Total assets                        $101,045,453       $64,612,025

    Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                        $2,943,002        $1,974,991
    Accrued liabilities                     13,306,016        13,901,770
    Current portion of long-term debt        7,127,222         5,617,928
      Total current liabilities             23,376,240        21,494,689

  Deferred rent                              1,159,187         1,224,869
  Long-term debt, less current portion
   and discount                             11,308,814        13,412,349
  Other long-term liabilities                   22,048            22,048
  Total stockholders' equity                65,179,164        28,458,070
      Total liabilities and
       stockholders' equity               $101,045,453       $64,612,025

CONTACT: William R. LaRue, SVP & Chief Financial Officer, [phone], or Anna Gralinska, Director, Investor Relations, [phone], both of Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Web site: http://www.cadencepharm.com/