Akebia Therapeutics has received marketing authorisation from the European Commission (EC) for its Vafseo (vadadustat) to treat symptomatic anaemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients on chronic maintenance dialysis.

It is applicable to all 27 European Union member states, along with Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Vadadustat is an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitor that has been designed to imitate the physiologic effect of altitude on oxygen availability.

It is currently approved in 32 countries.

Akebia Therapeutics CEO John Butler stated: “We’re extremely pleased the EC has approved Vafseo, an important milestone for Akebia but even more impactful for the hundreds of thousands of Europeans diagnosed with anaemia associated with CKD on dialysis.

“We believe patients receiving chronic maintenance dialysis would benefit from additional therapeutic options.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

“With approval, we’re eager to select a European partner who can quickly bring Vafseo to those patients.”

The EC approval is based on the data obtained from a comprehensive development programme, including the global Phase III INNO₂VATE clinical programme of vadadustat to treat anaemia due to CKD in adults who are on dialysis.

The findings showed that vadadustat achieved the primary and important secondary efficacy endpoint in two INNO₂VATE trials.

Vadadustat also achieved the INNO₂VATE programme’s primary safety endpoint. This was defined as its non-inferiority, compared with darbepoetin alfa, in time elapsed before a first major adverse cardiovascular event.

It received approval in Japan to treat anaemia due to CKD in dialysis-dependent and non-dialysis-dependent adult patients.

Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Awarded the 2025 Pharmaceutical Technology Excellence Award for Business Expansion in Integrated Manufacturing, Upperton Pharma Solutions is rapidly expanding its UK GMP and sterile manufacturing footprint. Find out how Upperton’s integrated CDMO model helps pharma companies move from early development to clinical and niche commercial supply with fewer handovers and faster timelines.

Discover the Impact