Akebia's vadadustat meets in anemia Phase II

Akebia Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:AKBA) jumped $5.34 (68%) to $13.15 in after-hours trading on Tuesday after three doses of vadadustat ( AKB-6548) met the primary endpoint in a Phase II trial to treat anemia in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing dialysis.

Patients receiving vadadustat maintained stable hemoglobin levels throughout the 16-week treatment period. The 94-patient trial studied vadadustat in patients previously treated with recombinant erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (rESA) therapy. The three cohorts received once-daily vadadustat starting at 300 mg, once-daily vadadustat starting at 450 mg or 450 mg of vadadustat three times per week, with dosages adjusted based on hemoglobin response. ...