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 Scott A. Canute, former President of Global Manufacturing and Corporate Operations of Genzyme Corporation, has been appointed to Akebia’s Board of Directors.
“Scott brings more than three decades of experience managing global manufacturing and operations to Akebia,” said Muneer A. Satter, Chairman of Akebia's Board of Directors. “His global operational expertise and broad management experience will play an important role in helping to advance the vadadustat Phase 3 program, while helping build out the company’s portfolio of potential HIF therapies.”
Mr. Canute has more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, currently serving on the Boards of Directors of Oncobiologics, Flexion Therapeutics and Proteon Therapeutics. Mr. Canute served as President of Global Manufacturing and Corporate Operations of Genzyme Corporation from 2010 until 2011. Prior to joining Genzyme, Mr. Canute spent 25 years at Eli Lilly and Company and served as President, Global Manufacturing Operations from 2004 until 2007, where he directed all manufacturing and supply chain activities for Eli Lilly’s global operations. Mr. Canute received a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
“Vadadustat has the potential to change the way we treat anemia related to chronic kidney disease for both non-dialysis and dialysis patients,” said Mr. Canute. “I have spent much of my career overseeing operations on a global scale, and I look forward to supporting the ongoing Phase 3 program for vadadustat, as well as potential future clinical programs.”
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 hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) biology. Akebia’s lead
product candidate, vadadustat, is an oral therapy in development for the
treatment of anemia related to chronic kidney disease in both
non-dialysis and dialysis patients. Akebia commenced enrollment in the
PRO2TECT Phase 3 program in non-dialysis dependent patients
and plans to commence the INNO2VATE Phase 3 program in
dialysis dependent patients in 2016. For more information, please visit
our website at www.akebia.com.
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 and benefits of
vadadustat, expansion of Akebia’s HIF product pipeline, and future
clinical development. 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 the
Phase 1 study of AKB-6899 and the Phase 3 studies of vadadustat and the
availability of financing to cover such costs; Akebia’s ability to
in-license, acquire and develop additional product candidates; the
timing and content of decisions made by the FDA and other regulatory
authorities; the rate of enrollment in clinical studies of vadadustat
and AKB-6899; the actual time it takes to prepare for and initiate
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 Annual Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 2016, 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.