(AKBA) Announces Positive Top-Line Results from its Phase 2 Study of Vadadustat

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on delivering innovative therapies to patients with kidney disease through the biology of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), today announced positive top-line results from its Phase 2 study of vadadustat (formerly AKB-6548) in dialysis patients with anemia related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study achieved its primary objective, indicating that vadadustat maintained stable hemoglobin (HGB) levels throughout the 16-week treatment period following conversion from recombinant erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (rESA) therapy. Vadadustat demonstrated a favorable safety profile with no drug-related serious adverse events and no deaths. The results highlight the potential of vadadustat, dosed either once daily or three times per week, to safely and predictably manage and sustain HGB levels in CKD patients undergoing dialysis.

The open-label, multi-center, 94 patient study was designed to evaluate the ability of vadadustat to maintain hemoglobin levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis who were previously being treated with rESAs. Patients were assigned to one of three dose cohorts: once daily vadadustat at a starting dose of 300mg, once daily vadadustat at a starting dose of 450mg, or vadadustat three times per week in conjunction with the patient’s hemodialysis schedule at a starting dose of 450mg. The study achieved its primary endpoints of maintaining stable hemoglobin levels over 16 weeks of treatment in all three cohorts of patients converting from rESAs to vadadustat.

						Mean Hemoglobin Levels (g/dL)*				Baseline			Week 7/8			Week 15/16
						300mg Daily Dose				10.4			10.4			10.3
						450mg Daily Dose				10.6			10.3			10.5
						450mg Three Times per Week Dose				10.5			10.2			10.4
						* Modified intent-to-treat (MITT) population, n=94

Vadadustat was well tolerated among patients in all three dose cohorts. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with vadadustat were balanced across the cohorts. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 13 subjects (13.8%), well within the expected range for this patient population. There were no drug-related SAEs and no deaths reported in the study.

“This study was a clear success, demonstrating the potential of vadadustat to effectively and safely treat anemia in dialysis patients switching from injectable rESA therapy,” said Brad Maroni, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Akebia. “We are impressed with the consistency in hemoglobin levels across the duration of the study, which highlights the ability of vadadustat to control and maintain hemoglobin levels in this patient population. Furthermore, the results indicate that daily and three times per week dosing regimens are both viable options for patients on dialysis.”

John P. Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akebia, stated, “These results further confirm vadadustat as a potential best-in-class anemia treatment for CKD patients, and reinforce our confidence in this product candidate as we advance toward our Phase 3 program. Adding these results to the 12 other clinical studies we have completed, we are confident in the potential for vadadustat to treat anemia in a broad array of patients with CKD. We are pleased to have successfully completed this stage of our drug development and look forward to initiating Phase 3 studies.”

Complete efficacy and safety data from this Phase 2 study will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

About the Phase 2 Study Design of Vadadustat in Dialysis Patients with Anemia Related to CKD

The Phase 2 multi-center, open-label study evaluated 94 patients over 16 weeks of treatment, at 20 dialysis centers in the United States, including an assessment of HGB response to the starting dose of vadadustat during the first 8 weeks, followed by an assessment of HGB response to algorithm-guided dose adjustments of vadadustat during the subsequent 8 weeks of treatment. The study enrolled three cohorts, each consisting of approximately 30 CKD patients with anemia undergoing dialysis who were switched from injectable rESA therapy to vadadustat. Patients in the first two cohorts received once daily doses of vadadustat, while patients in the third cohort received vadadustat three times per week in conjunction with their hemodialysis schedule.

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About Vadadustat (Formerly AKB-6548)

Vadadustat is an oral therapy currently in development for the treatment of anemia related to CKD. Vadadustat is designed to stabilize HIF, a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes involved with red blood cell (RBC) production in response to changes in oxygen levels, by inhibiting the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) enzyme. Vadadustat exploits the same mechanism of action used by the body to naturally adapt to lower oxygen availability associated with a moderate increase in altitude. At higher altitudes, the body responds to lower oxygen availability with increased production of HIF, which coordinates the interdependent processes of iron mobilization and erythropoietin (EPO) production to increase RBC production and, ultimately, improve oxygen delivery.

As a HIF stabilizer with best-in-class potential, vadadustat raises hemoglobin levels predictably and sustainably, with a dosing regimen that allows for a gradual and controlled titration. Vadadustat has been shown to improve iron mobilization, potentially eliminating the need for intravenous iron administration and reducing the overall need for iron supplementation.

About Anemia Related to CKD

Approximately 30 million people in the United States have CKD, with an estimated 1.8 million of these patients suffering from anemia. Anemia results from the body’s inability to coordinate RBC production in response to lower oxygen levels due to the progressive loss of kidney function, which occurs in patients with CKD. Left untreated, anemia significantly accelerates patients’ overall deterioration of health with increased morbidity and mortality. Renal anemia is currently treated with injectable rESAs, which are associated with inconsistent hemoglobin responses and well-documented safety risks.

About Akebia Therapeutics

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, focused on delivering innovative therapies to patients with kidney disease through HIF biology. The company has completed Phase 2 development of its lead product candidate, vadadustat, an oral therapy for the treatment of anemia related to CKD in both non-dialysis and dialysis patients.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include those about Akebia’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the potential indications, dosing and benefits of vadadustat, the development plan for vadadustat, plans for presenting a more detailed analysis of the data from the Phase 2 study, and the initiation of the Phase 3 program. The words “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including the risk that existing preclinical and clinical data may not be predictive of the results of ongoing or later clinical trials; the ability of Akebia to successfully complete the clinical development of vadadustat; the funding required to develop Akebia’s product candidates and operate the company, and the actual expenses associated therewith; the cost of our Phase 3 studies and the availability of financing to cover such cost; the timing and content of decisions made by the FDA and other regulatory authorities; the acceptance of Akebia’s abstract for presentation at a medical meeting; the actual time it takes to prepare for and initiate Phase 3 clinical studies; the success of competitors in developing product candidates for diseases for which Akebia is currently developing its product candidates; and Akebia’s ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for vadadustat. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Akebia’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and other filings that Akebia may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. Akebia does not undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Investors:
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Ed Joyce, 617-844-6130
ejoyce@akebia.com
or
Media:
Argot Partners
Eliza Schleifstein, 917-763-8106
Eliza@argotpartners.com