Leadership

CEO  -  Joseph H. Gardner, Ph.D.  joins Akebia from Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals and has over twenty years of discovery and development experience.  He developed, then managed a broad range of functions including: medicinal chemistry, process chemistry, high through put screening, computational modeling, and early clinical development.  Dr. Gardner created the intellectual property management function which managed the entire patent portfolio for the P&G Pharmaceutical business (discovery through marketed products).  He also has business development expertise, managing the discovery licensing function for over ten years.

CMO  -  Robert Shalwitz, M.D.
Akebia has recruited a highly experienced MD to lead the clinical development effort.  Dr. Shalwitz was an academic endocrinologist for 10 years whose research focused on glucose and glycogen metabolism.  He then joined Abbott Laboratories where he advanced to the level of Medical Director.  During his 10-year tenure, his team gained FDA approval for two NDAs (in lipid and cardiac disease).  In addition, he gained experience in all phases of drug development, from preclinical to phase IV.  In 2005, Dr. Shalwitz joined Reliant Pharmaceutical company as Vice President of Clinical Development.  During the 1¾ years with the company, he continued his work in lipid and cardiac disorders.  He led a small clinical team in launching and completing numerous clinical trials which contributed to several filings with the FDA.  In addition to his work in clinical development, Dr. Shalwitz has become very experienced in pharmacovigilance and post-marketing medical affairs.