EXHIBIT 99.1

                         LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY

                   ANNOUNCES EXERCISE OF OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION

SAN DIEGO, MARCH 5, 2004 - La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company announced today that
the underwriter for its recently completed public offering of shares of common
stock has purchased an additional 1,304,347 shares at the initial offering price
per share pursuant to the over-allotment option granted to the underwriter in
connection with the offering. The aggregate net proceeds to the Company from the
offering, including the proceeds from the over-allotment shares, were
approximately $29.5 million. Pacific Growth Equities, LLC served as the sole
underwriter for the transaction.

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is a biotechnology company developing
therapeutics for antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases afflicting several
million people in the United States and Europe.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve known
and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results
to differ materially from current expectations.

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