Akebia Therapeutics Inc. said two pivotal Japanese studies of its anemia drug, vadadustat, each with active controls, met their primary endpoints by helping people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) achieve mean hemoglobin levels noninferior to Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa). The results will support Akebia's commercial partner, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. (MTPC), in readying a new drug application seeking Japanese regulatory approval this year.