Akebia Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKBA) reported fourth-quarter revenue that exceeded market expectations and highlighted encouraging early-year commercial performance for its anemia treatment Vafseo, signaling growing momentum following the drug’s initial launch phase.
The biopharmaceutical company posted Q4 revenue of $57.62 million, comfortably ahead of the consensus estimate of $46.09 million. Management pointed to improving adoption trends for Vafseo in early 2026, suggesting continued growth after what it described as a successful first year on the market.
Vafseo is now being used by approximately 290,000 patients, with adherence rates improving as dialysis providers increasingly implement observed dosing protocols. The company believes these operational changes will help drive meaningful revenue expansion throughout 2026 and over the longer term, as Akebia works to position the therapy as a standard treatment option for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in dialysis patients.
Beyond commercialization efforts, Akebia continues advancing its development pipeline focused on rare kidney disorders. The company is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 2 study evaluating praliciguat for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). In addition, plans are underway to launch an open-label basket study in the second half of 2026 for rare kidney diseases using its tissue-targeted complement inhibitor, AKB-097, with initial data expected in 2027.
Company overview
Akebia Therapeutics Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing and commercializing therapies for kidney disease. Its portfolio includes Auryxia and Vafseo, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor approved in Japan for the treatment of anemia related to chronic kidney disease in adult patients. The company operates within the healthcare sector’s drug manufacturing industry and has a market capitalization of approximately $323.75 million.