HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has added three executives to its management team. John P. Longenecker, Ph.D. was appointed president, chief executive officer and director, Richard Ghalie, M.D. was appointed chief medical officer, and Tamara A. Seymour was appointed chief financial officer. Along with the appointment of the new management team, corporate offices for the company will be established in San Diego; existing offices in Seattle will be maintained.

Dr. Longenecker most recently served as president, chief executive officer and director of Favrille, Inc. He has more than 25 years of executive management experience in the biotechnology industry. Dr. Ghalie and Ms. Seymour both worked with Dr. Longenecker at Favrille and each have extensive careers in the biotechnology industry.

“I am very pleased to be reunited with my former colleagues in this new venture. I look forward to an aggressive clinical program for our lead product, HQK-1001, an orally administered Small Chain Fatty Acid Derivative (SCFAD), as a potential new treatment for hematologic disorders such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia,” said Dr. Longenecker. HQK-1001 has been given Orphan Drug designation in both the U.S. and Europe.