– Recent analyses highlight significant unmet clinical needs and burden of anemia due to chronic kidney disease

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 2, 2019-- Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for patients with kidney disease, and its strategic development collaborator Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc. (OPDC), announced today that four posters highlighting the unmet clinical need and economic burden among patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease will be presented at the 2019 Spring Clinical Meetings of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), to be held May 8 through May 12, 2019 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA.

• A Review of Cost-effectiveness Analyses for Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease; Poster #188;
• Descriptions of Anemia Symptoms: A Linguistic Analysis of Social Media Conversations in Chronic Kidney Disease; Poster #190;
• Targeted Review of the Epidemiology and Burden of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease; Poster #191; and
• Targeted Literature Review of the Patient-reported Burden of Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease; Poster #192.

"Akebia and Otsuka are committed to innovation and quality clinical research to advance the standard of care for patients with kidney disease," said John P. Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of Akebia Therapeutics. "Together we are delighted that these analyses will be shared at this important clinical meeting to increase awareness and understanding of the economic burden and challenges faced by patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease."

Presenters will be available for questions at posters on Thursday, May 9, 2019, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. ET. Posters will be available for viewing over the course of the conference.

About Akebia Therapeutics

Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of therapeutics for patients with kidney disease. The company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit Akebia’s website at www.akebia.com, which does not form a part of this release.

About Otsuka
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.

In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging areas of mental, renal and cardiovascular health and has additional research programs in oncology and on several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does.

Otsuka established a presence in the U.S. in 1973 and today its U.S. affiliates include Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI). These two companies’ 1,700 employees in the U.S. develop and commercialize medicines in the areas of mental health, nephrology and cardiology, using cutting-edge technology to address unmet healthcare needs.

OPDC is an indirect subsidiary of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 47,000 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 11.7 billion in 2018.

All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less travelled. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @OtsukaUS. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s global website is accessible at www.otsuka.co.jp/en/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Words such as “anticipate,” “create,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “position,” “predict,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “working to,” “look forward” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding advancing the standard of care for patients with kidney disease, and increasing awareness and understanding of the economic burden and challenges faced by patients with anemia due to chronic kidney disease, are forward-looking statements. Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from Akebia’s plans, estimates or expectations. Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Akebia’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other filings that Akebia may make with the U.S. 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.

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Source: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.

Akebia Therapeutics:
Kristen K. Sheppard, Esq.
ir@akebia.com

Otsuka:
Otsuka In U.S.
Robert Murphy
Corporate Communications
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
robert.murphy@otsuka-us.com
609-249-7262

Otsuka Outside U.S.
Jeffrey Gilbert
Leader, Pharmaceutical PR
Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd.
gilbert.jeffrey@otsuka.co.jp
+81 3 6361 7379, +81 80 8728 6039