BioCentury
ARTICLE | Emerging Company Profile

Akebia: HIF, HIF, Hooray

August 24, 2009 7:00 AM UTC

Injectable erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, though still standard of care for anemia, dramatically increase the concentration of erythropoietin, which can lead to cardiovascular and thromboembolic events over time. Akebia Therapeutics Inc. believes its oral lead anemia compound will be safer than marketed ESAs because it stimulates production of near normal levels of endogenous EPO only under the hypoxic conditions caused by loss of red blood cells.

The company's AKB-6548 has completed preclinical testing to treat anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)...