OUR COMPANY
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is dedicated to the commercialization of innovative therapies that improve outcomes in patients suffering from life-threatening diseases. GIAPREZA™ (angiotensin II) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a vasoconstrictor indicated to increase blood pressure in adults with septic or other distributive shock. XERAVA™ (eravacycline) is approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections.
MANAGEMENT
Larry Edwards
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tony Hodges, M.D., FACP, FCCP
Chief Medical Officer
Luke Seikkula
Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations
Steven Ferris
Vice President of Quality Assurance
Paula Rusu
Vice President of Operations
Larry Edwards
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Edwards has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2020. From 2015 to 2020, he served in various positions at Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc., most recently serving as Chief Executive Officer. From 2014 to 2015, Mr. Edwards served as Senior Director of Marketing of the Gram-negative Franchise of Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Merck & Co., Inc.). From 1999 to 2014, he served in various positions at Merck and Co., Inc., most recently serving as Global Marketing Director of Clostridium Difficile and New Infectious Disease Products. Mr. Edwards received a B.S. degree in business and healthcare administration from Ohio University.
Tony Hodges, M.D., FACP, FCCP
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Hodges has served as our Chief Medical Officer since 2021. From 2016 to 2020, he served in various positions at Banner—University Medical Center Phoenix, including serving as Director of the Center for Lung Transplantation, Director of the Center for Infusion Medicine and Physician Executive Director of Revenue Cycle Operations. From 2006 to 2012, Dr. Hodges was Co-founder and Director of the Center for Thoracic Transplantation and Medical Director of Lung Transplant at the Norton Thoracic Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. From 2002 to 2006, he served as Medical Director of the Lung Transplantation and Advanced Lung Disease Center at Keck University of Southern California Hospital. Dr. Hodges received a B.S. degree in clinical laboratory sciences and microbiology from Louisiana Tech University and an M.D. degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, and completed his Pulmonary and Critical Care and Lung Transplant Fellowships at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Luke Seikkula
Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations
Mr. Seikkula has served as our Senior Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations since 2019 and previously held various positions, most recently serving as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Operations, from 2015 to 2019. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Senior Director of Materials and Logistics at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Seikkula served as Senior Director of Materials and Logistics at Allos Therapeutics, Inc. Mr. Seikkula received a B.S. degree in business administration from Winona State University and an MBA in finance from San Diego State University.
Steven Ferris
Vice President of Quality Assurance
Mr. Ferris has served as our Vice President of Quality Assurance since 2021. From 2019 to 2021, he served as Vice President of Quality Systems at SQ Innovation, Inc. From 2016 to 2019, Mr. Ferris served as Senior Director of Quality Systems at Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 2010 to 2016, he served as Director of Quality at Pharmalucence, Inc. (acquired by Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. in 2014). From 2008 to 2010, Mr. Ferris served as Senior Director of Quality Assurance at ImmunoGen, Inc. Mr. Ferris received a B.S. degree in biology from Rhode Island College.
Paula Rusu
Vice President of Operations
Ms. Rusu has served as our Vice President of Operations since 2020. From 2018 to 2020, she served as Senior Director of Commercial Operations at Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 2015 to 2018, Ms. Rusu served as Director of Sales Operations at Collegium Pharmaceutical, Inc. From 2011 to 2015, she served as Director of Field Planning and Effectiveness at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (acquired by Merck & Co., Inc.). From 1998 to 2011, Ms. Rusu held various positions at Purdue Pharma L.P., most recently serving as Director of Sales Operations. Ms. Rusu received a B.S. degree in biology and an MBA in general management from Cornell University.
COMPLIANCE
