Akebia Therapeutics might be a bit behind in the race to develop a safer, oral drug for anemia, but it’s just gotten a big vote of confidence from investors in the form of a $41 million Series C. Novartis Venture Fund, Kearny Venture Partners, Venture Investors LLC, Athenian Venture Partners, Triathlon Medical Ventures, AgeChem Venture […]
A biopharmaceutical company that spun out of Cincinnati-based Akebia Therapeutics just eight months ago has raised $27 million to support development and clinical trials of its drug for diabetic macular edema. Novartis BioVentures led Aerpio Therapeutics’ series A, which also saw participation from Venture Investors LLC, Triathlon Medical Ventures, Kearny Venture Partners, Athenian Venture Partners […]
A once-daily oral anemia drug from Akebia Therapeutics met its primary endpoint in a phase 2a trial of chronic kidney disease patients. The successful 42-day trial of the drug, now called AKB-6548, sets the stage for a longer 2b trial that would follow patients for six months, said Bill Daly, Akebia’s senior vice president of […]
Akebia Therapeutics has spun off a new company, the similarly named Aerpio Therapeutics, to develop drugs for diabetic macular edema and inflammatory bowel disease. Akebia will continue developing its oral anemia drug candidate, according to a statement from the Cincinnati-area company. The new company is looking to raise a series A round of financing this […]
The pharmaceutical company Affymax just got $10 million for moving forward with an anemia treatment that would require one injection a month as opposed to as many as several shots a week. Imagine the opportunity if someone can take a similar anemia treatment and let patients swallow it? Startups and well-established drugmakers are competing to […]
Akebia Therapeutics has closed a $22 million series B round of investment that will take the company through a pair of phase 2b trials of its oral anemia drug. The funding is an important milestone for the Cincinnati-based pharmaceutical company as it pushes forward with development of AKB-6548, which is designed to promote levels of […]
A specialty drug is a class of prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic or rare medical conditions. Although this classification was originally intended to define the treatment of rare, also termed “orphan” diseases, affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the US, more recently, specialty drugs have emerged as the cornerstone of treatment for chronic and complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune conditions, diabetes, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS.
Sixty-two medical companies in Ohio have received grants or tax credits through a provision of this year's health reform law that's designed to fund the development of new therapies.
Akebia Therapeutics Inc. has successfully completed a Phase 2a trial of its orally administered anti-anemia drug for kidney disease patients.
Akebia Therapeutics Inc. has begun a Phase 2a clinical trial of its orally administered anemia drug. The company recently completed a Phase 1b trial of the drug, called AKB-6548, that showed an increase in erythropoietin, immature red blood cells and hemoglobin with “no significant adverse events,” according to a statement from the Cincinnati-area drug developer. […]
Being first isn’t the only goal in the drug-development business. Sometimes, an unmet patient need is so great, companies that are second or third to market stand a good chance of success. That’s what Akebia Therapeutics Inc. near Cincinnati is hoping for as it prepares to do Phase 2 clinical trials of its drug to […]
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Updated 6:47 p.m. Small molecule discovery and development company Akebia Therapeutics Inc. reported positive results from a second Phase 1 clinical trial of its anemia drug, as well as the second closing of a $16 million financing round announced almost a year ago, boosting the round to $17 million. Startup Akebia is racing to the […]
Queen City Angels invested in seven life sciences companies and one health information technology company last year, according to its 2009 annual operating report (pdf). The group of accredited investors finished the year with 12 investments, which included three IT companies and one company specializing in advanced materials. In addition, the angel group created a […]
Small molecule discovery and development company Akebia Therapeutics Inc. has started a second Phase 1 clinical trial of its anemia drug--another baton hand-off in a race with big drug companies to get to market first with a safer, more effective, less expensive oral treatment.
Midwest health care start-ups attracted $780 million in investments in 2009, according to the BioEnterprise Midwest Health Care Venture Investment Report. While the number of companies winning investments last year -- 156 -- was about the same as in 2008, the dollar volume of the investments dropped 26 percent.
The successful completion of the trial in healthy human volunteers is a major milestone and kicks off what's shaping up to be a big year for the fledgling Cincinnati company.
