Thursday, March 16, 2006

La Jolla Pharmaceuticals Appoints CEO

San Diego-based La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company announced yesterday that it has appointed a new CEO. Deirdre Y. Gillespie, M.D. has joined the firm, replacing Steven B. Engle, who the company said resigned Tuesday. The firm also said that Craig R. Smith, M.D., a director of the company, has been appointed Chairman. Gillespie joins from Oxxon, and has served at Vical and other firms. La Jolla Pharmaceutical is developing therapeutics for the treatment of lupus.

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