La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company Forms Scientific Advisory Board

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - February 12, 2014) - La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (NASDAQ: LJPC) (the "Company" or "La Jolla"), a biotechnology company developing therapeutics targeting significant unmet life-threatening diseases, today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board ("SAB") for the development of hepcidin ("LJPC-401"). Inaugural members of the SAB include Tomas Ganz, MD, PhD and Dr. Elizabeta Nemeth, PhD, both of the University of California, Los Angeles ("UCLA"). Dr. Ganz discovered the iron regulator peptide hepcidin and has revolutionized the field of iron biology. Dr. Nemeth has made significant contributions to the field of iron regulation and together with Dr. Ganz, created the first human hepcidin assay.

"Dr. Nemeth and I look forward to serving on the Scientific Advisory Board of La Jolla," said Dr. Tomas Ganz. "Given our dedication to the field of iron biology, we are excited to work closely with La Jolla to bring hepcidin to the clinic to help patients with iron overload."

Dr. Ganz holds a PhD in Applied Physics from the California Institute of Technology and an MD from UCLA. He is currently Professor of Medicine and Pathology, Director of the Will Rogers Pulmonary Research Laboratory, and Co-Director of the Center for Iron Disorders at UCLA.

"Our research over the years is highly supportive of the therapeutic value of hepcidin in patients suffering from chronic iron overload," said Dr. Elizabeth Nemeth. "We remain committed to helping patients with iron disorders."

Dr. Nemeth holds a PhD in Cell, Molecular and Neurosciences from the University of Hawaii. She is currently Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of the Center for Iron Disorders at UCLA.

"La Jolla is pleased to have such accomplished scientists as Dr. Ganz and Dr. Nemeth join our Scientific Advisory Board," said George Tidmarsh, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of La Jolla. "Both Dr. Ganz and Dr. Nemeth bring a breadth of experience that will assist us in the development of LJPC-401 for conditions associated with iron overload."

About La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for chronic organ failure and cancer. GCS-100, the Company's lead product candidate, is a first-in-class inhibitor of galectin-3, a novel molecular target implicated in chronic organ failure and cancer. LJPC-501, the Company's second product candidate, is a natural peptide for the treatment of hepatorenal syndrome. LJPC-401, the Company's third product candidate, is a natural peptide for the treatment of iron overload. For more information on the Company please visit http://www.ljpc.com.

Forward Looking Statement Safe Harbor

This document contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to future events or our future results of operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results to be materially different from these forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. Certain of these risks, uncertainties, and other factors are described in greater detail in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), all of which are available free of charge on the SEC's web site http://www.sec.gov. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks relating to the development of GCS-100, LJPC-501 and LJPC-401, the success and timing of future preclinical and clinical studies of these compounds, and potential indications for which GCS-100, LJPC-501 and LJPC-401 may be developed. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or to persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth in the Company's reports filed with the SEC. The Company expressly disclaims any intent to update any forward-looking statements.