Akebia ophthalmic, autoimmune news

Akebia spun out Aerpio Therapeutics Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio) to focus on diabetic eye disease. The newco's lead compound is AKB-9778, a tyrosine kinase receptor 2 (Tie2) activator, which is expected to start a Phase IIa trial to treat diabetic macular edema (DME) next quarter, with data expected by year end. Aerpio's second compound is AKB-4924, an inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase 2 ( EGLN1; HIF-PH2; PHD2) in preclinical development for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Akebia, which will focus on anemia, retains AKB-6548, a once-daily, oral hypoxiainducible factor prolyl hydroxylase ( HIF-PH; EGLN) inhibitor in Phase II testing to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD). ...