Akebia Therapeutics

Akebia Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that was founded in 2007 by Joseph Gardner. The company is focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for patients with chronic kidney disease.

The company's lead product candidate is Vadadustat, a hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) stabilizer that inhibits the prolyl hydrolase (PH) enzyme. It is in Phase 3 of clinical development for patients with renal anemia. Vadadustat is designed to mimic the body's adaptive response to hypoxia, such as that experienced at moderate altitude. The drug is currently an investigational drug and has not yet been approved by the US FDA or any other regulatory authority.

Akebia is developing other HIF-based portfolio of product candidates that target serious diseases of high unmet need. This includes those developed internally as well as in-licensed products.

In December 2018, Akebia merged with Keryx Biopharmaceuticals under the former company's name.

On July 28, 2009 Akebia Therapeutics completed their series A funding round with $25 million in funding from Venture Investors (lead investor), Novartis Venture Fund (lead investor), Triathlon Medical Venture Partners, Orchard Venture Partners, Kearny Venture Partners, and Athenian Venture Partners.

On April 26, 2011 Akebia Therapeutics completed their series B funding round with $22 million in funding from Venture Investors (lead investor), Novartis Venture Fund (lead investor), Triathlon Medical Venture Partners, Orchard Venture Partners, Kearny Venture Partners, and Athenian Venture Partners, and AgeChem Venture Partners.

On June 4, 2013 Akebia Therapeutics completed their series C funding round with $41 million in funding from Satter Investment Management (lead investor), Nova Holdings (lead investor), Venture Investors, Triathlon Medical Venture Partners, Orchard Venture Partners, Novo Holdings, Novartis Venture Fund, Kearny Venture Partners, Athenian Venture Partners, and AgeChem Venture Fund.