Portola Pharmaceuticals Hires EVP

Portola Pharmaceuticals has appointed John B. Moriarty, J.D., as executive vice president and general counsel, effective immediately. 

Mr. Moriarty will report to William Lis, chief executive officer, and will serve as Portola’s chief legal officer, responsible for leading all legal, regulatory, governance and compliance initiatives. He also will be directly involved in strategic business transactions and corporate expansion as a member of Portola’s Executive Committee.

“John’s appointment comes at a critical time for Portola, as we execute on the successful launch of our first medicine Bevyxxa (betrixaban), and continue to advance our two other lead development programs, andexanet alfa and cerdulatinib, through key clinical and regulatory milestones,” said Mr. Lis.  “His extensive legal and business expertise, as well as his leadership track record, will be invaluable in addressing the complex issues that accompany our transition into a global commercial organization, and we are thrilled to welcome John to the team.”

Mr. Moriarty joins Portola from Alexion Pharmaceuticals where, as executive vice president and general counsel for more than five years, he was responsible for overseeing all global legal matters spanning 50 countries, as well as managing Alexion’s Global Government Affairs and Global Corporate Communications teams during his tenure. 

“Portola has made substantial and rapid progress in its commercial evolution and I am excited to join the team at such a pivotal time,” said Mr. Moriarty. “Portola has a well-recognized, science-based culture and I look forward to working alongside such a talented and passionate team to deliver new medicines that have the potential to transform patient care in the fields of thrombosis and hematology.”