Tricida hires general counsel and CCO

Nasdaq-listed pharmaceutical company Tricida has hired Robert McKague as executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer.

McKague joined Tricida last month to lead the San Francisco-based company’s legal and compliance organization as it prepares for the potential launch this year of its drug candidate, veverimer, which is intended to help patients with chronic kidney disease.

Before moving to Tricida, McKague worked for more than a decade at Jazz Pharmaceuticals where he most recently worked as senior vice president and associate general counsel. He was a member of the executive committee at Jazz and managed a team that supported the global operational functions of the company, including supporting six product launches, and ensured compliance with relevant laws, regulations and industry codes of practice in numerous countries.

Between 2009 and 2011 he worked in senior legal positions at Actelion Pharmaceuticals and Oracle America. He began his legal career at the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System and law firm Morrison & Foerster.

‘We are excited to have Bob join the executive team, where his extensive strategic, regulatory and operational expertise will be invaluable as we grow into a commercial organization,’ says Tricida CEO and president Gerrit Klaerner in a statement. ‘Bob’s specific knowledge and background in regulatory compliance will also help guide our commercial team as we work toward a successful launch of veverimer, if approved.’