CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 that data from the AKB-6548 development program will be presented in two poster sessions at the upcoming American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Kidney Week 2014 annual meeting in Philadelphia, PA from November 11-16, 2014.

Poster session details:

Thursday, November 13 - Saturday, November 15, 2014
Title: Phase 2a Study of AKB-6548, a novel Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Prolyl-Hydroxylase Inhibitor (HIF-PHI) in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Undergoing Hemodialysis (HD) (Poster Board #:INFO25)
Poster Times: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Exhibit Hall A

Friday, November 14, 2014
Title: Hemodialysis has Minimal Impact on the Pharmacokinetics of AKB-6548, a Once-Daily Oral Inhibitor of Hypoxia Inducible Factor Prolyl-Hydroxylases (HIFPHs) for the Treatment of Anemia Related to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) (Poster Board #:FR-PO952)
Session Title: Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics/Pharmacogenomics
Poster Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Exhibit Hall A

The clinical posters will be available on Akebia's website (www.akebia.com) in the Media section under the Publications tab.

About AKB-6548

AKB-6548 is a once-daily, oral therapy currently in development for the treatment of anemia related to CKD. AKB-6548 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. AKB-6548 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, AKB-6548 may raise hemoglobin levels and RBC count predictably and sustainably, with a positive safety profile and a dosing regimen that allows for a gradual and controlled titration. Furthermore, AKB-6548 may improve iron mobilization, potentially eliminating 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. Akebia's lead clinical program, AKB-6548, is a once-daily, oral therapy, which has completed a Phase 2b study in non-dialysis patients with anemia related to CKD and is in Phase 2 development for the treatment of anemia in patients undergoing dialysis, serious medical conditions that lead to increased morbidity and mortality if left untreated. For more information on Akebia, please visit please visit www.akebia.com.

Investors:
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Nicole P. Jones, +1-617-871-1210
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
njones@akebia.com
or
Media:
Feinstein Kean Healthcare
Liz Falcone, +1-617-761-6727
liz.falcone@fkhealth.com

Source: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.

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