Vadadustat

Vadadustat, also known as AKB-6548 and PG-1016548, is a potent Hypoxia-inducible factor-proline dioxygenase inhibitor. AKB-6548 works by inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIP-PH), leading to stabilization and increased levels of HIFα. In turn HIFα improves production of hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBCs), while maintaining normal levels of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients. We believe this differentiated mechanism of action has the potential to be safer than that of injectable recombinant erythropoietin stimulating agents (rESAs), avoiding supra-physiological levels of EPO and saturation of EPO receptors for prolonged periods of time.