On December 16, 2015, the Board of Directors of Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. appointed Yutaka Niihara, M.D., MPH, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company. Dr. Niihara, 55, previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the company from May 2011 until April 2015. From April 2015 until December 2015, he served as Chief Scientific Officer of the company.

He has also served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Emmaus Medical, Inc. since 2003. Since May 2005, Dr. Niihara has also served as the President, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of Hope International Hospice, Inc. Dr. Niihara is the principal inventor of the patented L-glutamine therapy for treatment of sickle cell disease, has been involved in patient care and research for sickle cell disease during most of his career and is a widely published author in the area of sickle cell disease. Simultaneously with Dr. Niihara's appointment on December 16, 2015, the Executive Committee consisting of executive officers Peter Ludlum and Lan Tran that carried out the roles and responsibilities of the company's CEO on an interim basis was automatically terminated.

Also on December 16, 2015, the Board also appointed Willis C. Lee, M.S. to serve as a director of the company. The appointment of Mr. Lee was effective upon the acceptance of his appointments, which acceptance occurred on December 16, 2015. Mr. Lee, 55, has served as Chief Operating Officer of the company since May 2011.

Mr. Lee served as a director of Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. from May 2011 to May 2014 and also served as the Co-Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer and as a director of Emmaus Medical from March 2010 to May 2011. Furthermore, on December 16, 2015, the Board also appointed Jon Kuwahara and Masaharu Osato, M.D., to serve as directors of the company. The elections of Mr. Kuwahara and Dr. Osato are contingent upon the satisfactory completion of background checks and other diligence to be performed by the Board.

Mr. Kuwahara is expected to become the chairman of the company's Audit Committee, as well as the company's Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Dr. Osato is expected to serve on the company's Audit Committee and the company's Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Kuwahara, 50, has served as Corporate Controller of Avanir Pharmaceuticals since 2014.

Between 2010 and 2014, Mr. Kuwahara served as Associate Director of Finance and Assistant Corporate Controller of Questcor Pharmaceuticals. Also on December 16, 2015, Scott Gottlieb tendered his resignation from the Board, effective immediately. Mr. Gottlieb was a member of the Audit Committee prior to his resignation.