Portola Picks Adamas Pharma’s Patni for Chief Medical Officer Role

Rajiv Patni has joined Portola Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTLA]]) as executive vice president and chief medical officer. He comes to South San Francisco-based Portola from Adamas Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ADMS]]), where he was chief medical officer. Patni’s experience also includes positions at Ocera Therapeutics, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Roche, and Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]). Portola has commercialized two FDA-approved therapies: betrixaban (Bevyxxa), a blood clot prevention drug, and andexanet alpha (Andexxa), which reverses the effects of blood thinners in cases of life-threatening bleeding.

Author: Frank Vinluan

Xconomy Editor Frank Vinluan is a business journalist with experience covering technology and life sciences. Based in Raleigh, he was a staff writer at the Triangle Business Journal covering technology, biotechnology and energy before joining MedCityNews.com as North Carolina bureau chief. Prior to moving to North Carolina’s Research Triangle in 2007 he held business reporting positions at The Des Moines Register and The Seattle Times.