After safety concerns derailed an approval of Akebia Therapeutics’ blockbuster hopeful vadadustat late last month, the company warned that a restructuring was in the cards. This week, Akebia telegraphed job cuts for nearly half of its workforce and revealed deeper issues with the FDA on its lead drug candidate.
Akebia’s board of directors on Monday signed off on plans to slash the company’s workforce by some 42% across “all areas of the company,” or 47% including the closing of most open job positions, a filing says. The move follows last month’s receipt of an FDA complete response letter on HIF-PH inhibitor prospect vadadustat, a candidate to treat anemia from chronic kidney disease (CKD).
