-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 L2bXnc6qZyE+m0qVijZC18/jDHEN++SDgDZxBvZu2+SgM9chEhLkA6SrXc3MRFh2
 VPxfwI3WT3b7tMKreSDatQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-08-031421.txt : 20080514
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-08-031421.hdr.sgml : 20080514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080514184115
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-08-031421
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080514
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920465
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS (NO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES) [2836]
		IRS NUMBER:				330361285
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6455 NANCY RIDGE DR
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8584526600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6455 NANCY RIDGE DR
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUTTER MARTIN P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017832

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-24274
		FILM NUMBER:		08833446

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2170 BUCKTHORNE PLACE SUITE 170
		CITY:			THE WOODLANDS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77380
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7133679999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2170 BUCKTHORNE PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 170
		CITY:			THE WOODLAND
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77380
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd206851.xml
<DESCRIPTION>ESSEX'S PURCHASE OF LA JOLLA
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920465</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LA JOLLA PHARMACEUTICAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LJPC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017832</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SUTTER MARTIN P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21 WATERWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 225</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THE WOODLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77380</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2081977</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9748643</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Essex Woodlands Health Ventures Fund VI, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>64400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.125</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>520494</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.125</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-05-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2187160</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2187160</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Essex Woodlands Health Ventures Fund VI, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person is a managing director of the general partner of the general partner of the partnership that owns the reported securities. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options vest and become exercisable with respect to 25% of the underlying shares on 12/14/2005 and with respect to an additional 25% of the underlying shares on each of the next three annual anniversaries thereof.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The right to purchase shares of common stock under the warrant expires upon the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of May 12, 2008 and (ii) the date of consummation of any certain extraordinary transactions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Martin P. Sutter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----