Portola Appoints Dr. David C. Stump To Board Of Directors

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Portola Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:PTLA) today announced the appointment of David C. Stump, M.D., to its board of directors. Dr. Stump most recently served as executive vice president, research and development, at Human Genome Sciences, Inc.

"Dr. Stump has over 25 years of experience, most notably at Genentech and Human Genome Sciences, bringing some of the most successful drugs for heart disease, stroke, B-cell lymphoma and other cancers through the clinic and regulatory process to the market," said Bill Lis, chief executive officer of Portola. "His knowledge, network and track record are directly and immediately relevant and applicable as we enter the pivotal phases of our three near-term pipeline opportunities that could transform Portola to a fully integrated commercial biopharmaceutical company in 2016."

Dr. Stump's career in the biotechnology industry spans more than 20 years. Prior to joining Human Genome Sciences, he held roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, Inc., most recently as vice president, clinical research. Earlier in his career, he was named a Genentech Fellow. Before joining Genentech, he was an associate professor of medicine and biochemistry at the University of Vermont. Dr. Stump earned an A.B. from Earlham College and an M.D. at Indiana University, followed by residency and fellowship training in internal medicine, hematology and oncology, and biochemistry at the University of Iowa. He completed postgraduate training in hemostasis and thrombosis at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology of the American Heart Association. He is also a member of the board of directors of Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and MacroGenics, Inc.

About Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Portola Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company developing product candidates that could significantly advance the fields of thrombosis and other hematologic diseases. The Company is advancing its three wholly-owned programs using novel biomarker and genetic approaches that may increase the likelihood of clinical, regulatory and commercial success of its potentially life-saving therapies. These programs include betrixaban, an oral, once-daily Factor Xa inhibitor being evaluated in the APEX Phase 3 study for prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism; andexanet alfa, a recombinant protein designed to reverse the anticoagulant effect in patients treated with an oral or injectable Factor Xa inhibitor; and cerdulatinib, a Syk/JAK inhibitor in development to treat hematologic cancers. Portola's partnered program is focused on developing selective Syk inhibitors for inflammatory conditions. For more information, visit www.portola.com and follow the Company on Twitter @Portola_Pharma.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to our intention to launch the two late-stage products in our thrombosis franchise and advance the clinical development of our product candidate in hematologic cancer and other statements regarding the development of our product candidates. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of Portola's estimates regarding its ability to initiate and/or complete its clinical trials; the success of Portola's clinical trials and the demonstrated efficacy of Portola's product candidates to the satisfaction of regulatory authorities; the accuracy of Portola's estimates regarding its expenses and capital requirements; Portola's ability to manufacture andexanet alfa; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; Portola's ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for its product candidates; and the loss of key scientific or management personnel. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Portola's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed on March 2, 2015, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed on August 5, 2015. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Portola undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

CONTACT: Investor Contact: Michele Mantynen Portola Pharmaceuticals ir@portola.com Media Contact: Julie Normart W2O Group jnormart@w2ogroup.com

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