– USA, MA – 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, 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 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.
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