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Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) appoints Philip Vickers to Board as Steven Gilman retires

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8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Akebia Therapeutics announced a Board change, with Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D. resigning as a Class I director effective April 1, 2026, stating his resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company. The Board elected Philip J. Vickers, Ph.D. as a new Class I director effective the same date, with an initial term running through the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders.

Dr. Vickers will serve on the Compensation Committee and the Research & Development Committee and will be compensated under Akebia’s non-employee director program. He is eligible for annual cash retainers of $50,000 for Board service, $7,500 for Compensation Committee membership, and $5,000 for Research & Development Committee membership, plus future annual equity grants of options to purchase 53,600 shares and 35,700 restricted stock units starting at the 2027 annual meeting. As a new director, he received a one-time grant of 214,400 stock options on April 1, 2026 at an exercise price of $1.41 per share.

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits
Financial statements, pro forma financial information, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
Board annual cash retainer $50,000 Annual cash retainer for serving on the Board under the director program
Compensation Committee retainer $7,500 Annual cash retainer for serving on the Compensation Committee
R&D Committee retainer $5,000 Annual cash retainer for serving on the Research & Development Committee
Annual option grant 53,600 shares Planned annual stock option grant starting at 2027 annual meeting
Annual RSU grant 35,700 units Planned annual restricted stock unit grant starting at 2027 annual meeting
Initial option grant 214,400 options One-time new director grant to Philip Vickers on April 1, 2026
Option exercise price $1.41 per share Exercise price for the 214,400 initial stock options
Director term end 2027 annual meeting Scheduled end of Philip Vickers’ initial term as Class I director
Fifth Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Program financial
"Dr. Vickers is entitled to receive compensation pursuant to the Company’s Fifth Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Program"
restricted stock units financial
"annual equity grant of (i) an option to purchase 53,600 shares ... and (ii) 35,700 restricted stock units of the Company"
Restricted stock units are a type of company reward where employees are promised shares of stock, but they only fully own these shares after meeting certain conditions, like staying with the company for a set time. They matter because they can become valuable assets and are often used to motivate employees to help the company succeed.
indemnification agreement regulatory
"the Company will enter into an indemnification agreement with Dr. Vickers in substantially the same form entered into with the other members of the Board"
An indemnification agreement is a contract in which one party promises to cover losses, costs, or legal claims that another party might face, acting like a tailored safety net or private insurance policy. For investors, it matters because such agreements shift potential financial risk away from a company or its officers and onto the indemnifier, which can affect a company’s future liabilities, cash flow and how risky the investment appears during deal-making or litigation.
Compensation Committee financial
"Dr. Vickers has also been appointed to each of the Compensation Committee and the Research & Development Committee of the Board"
A compensation committee is a group within a company's leadership responsible for setting and reviewing how much top executives and employees are paid, including salaries, bonuses, and benefits. It matters to investors because fair and effective pay decisions can influence a company's performance, leadership motivation, and overall governance, helping ensure that the company’s management is aligned with shareholders’ interests.
Research & Development Committee technical
"appointed to each of the Compensation Committee and the Research & Development Committee of the Board"
Understanding 8-K Material Events →
0001517022FALSE00015170222026-03-272026-03-27

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

FORM 8-K
_____________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 27, 2026
_____________________

AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_____________________
Delaware 001-36352 20-8756903
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)		 (Commission
File Number)		 (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
245 First Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts
 02142
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (617) 871-2098
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
_____________________
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 ☐Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 ☐Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 ☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 ☐Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class Trading
symbol(s)		 Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share AKBA 
The Nasdaq Capital Market
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐




5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.


On March 27, 2026, Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D., a Class I director of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), resigned from the Board effective April 1, 2026. Mr. Gilman's resignation is not a result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Effective April 1, 2026, the Board, upon recommendation from the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board, elected Philip J. Vickers, Ph.D. as a Class I director. Dr. Vickers' initial term is scheduled to expire at the Company’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. Dr. Vickers has also been appointed to each of the Compensation Committee and the Research & Development Committee of the Board. There are no arrangements or understandings between Dr. Vickers and any other person regarding his election to the Board.

Dr. Vickers is entitled to receive compensation pursuant to the Company’s Fifth Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (the “Program”) applicable to all of the Company’s non-employee directors. In accordance with the Program, Dr. Vickers is eligible to receive annual cash retainers of $50,000 for serving on the Board, $7,500 for serving as a member of the Compensation Committee, $5,000 for serving as a member of the Research & Development Committee, and, commencing upon the 2027 annual meeting of stockholders, annual equity grant of (i) an option to purchase 53,600 shares of the common stock of the Company ("Options") and (ii) 35,700 restricted stock units of the Company. In addition, in accordance with the Program, on April 1, 2026, Dr. Vickers was granted 214,400 Options at an exercise price of $1.41 per share, as a new non-employee director. Dr. Vickers will also have the same right to indemnification by the Company as granted to the Company’s other non-employee directors, and the Company will enter into an indemnification agreement with Dr. Vickers in substantially the same form entered into with the other members of the Board, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 12, 2018.


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
99.1
Press Release, dated April 1, 2026, issued by Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)






SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Date: April 1, 2026
By: /s/ John P. Butler
Name: John P. Butler
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer


Exhibit 99.1

Akebia Therapeutics Appoints Biopharmaceutical Leader Philip Vickers, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—April 1, 2026—Akebia Therapeutics®, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, today announced the appointment of biopharmaceutical leader Philip Vickers to its Board of Directors, effective April 1, 2026. Dr. Vickers is the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Solu Therapeutics, a venture-backed biotechnology company focused on creating first-in-class therapeutics utilizing a novel drug discovery platform, and he has held senior leadership positions at several early-stage biotechnology companies as well as global pharmaceutical companies.

“We are delighted to welcome Phil to our Board,” said Adrian Adams, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Akebia. “His extensive background in drug development and leading large and complex R&D organizations will be extremely valuable as Akebia advances both mid-and early-stage programs in kidney and rare diseases. Moreover, Dr. Vickers has an impressive track record of actively evaluating business development opportunities. We could not ask for a more timely and well-rounded addition to our Board at this exciting time for the Company.”

“I am pleased to be joining the Akebia Board of Directors at a point of transformation as the company begins evaluating its promising assets to address rare kidney diseases,” said Dr. Vickers. “Furthermore, I am very impressed by Akebia’s dedication to patients and by the caliber of its management team. I look forward to supporting the team as they advance their drug development imperatives.”

Dr. Vickers brings more than three decades of global biopharmaceutical leadership experience, with deep expertise spanning research and development, translational science and corporate strategy across a broad range of therapeutic areas. Prior to Solu, Dr. Vickers held CEO roles at Faze Medicines and Northern Biologics, where he guided early-stage innovation, advanced immuno-oncology and biomolecular condensate programs, and executed strategic transactions with major pharmaceutical partners. Earlier, he served as Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research and Development at Shire, where he oversaw a global R&D organization. Dr. Vickers has also held senior leadership roles at Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer, where he contributed to discovery and development efforts across multiple therapeutic areas, including inflammation, neuroscience, and cardiovascular disease. He began his career at Merck, where he played a key role in the discovery of important drug targets and development candidates. In


addition to his industry leadership, Dr. Vickers is a trained biochemist with a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and has co-authored approximately 60 peer-reviewed publications and numerous patents.

Akebia also announced that Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D., retired from the Board of Directors of Akebia, effective April 1, 2026. Dr. Gilman has served as a member of our Board of Directors since the merger with Keryx in December 2018 and had previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of Keryx since March 2016.

“Steve has been an invaluable member of Akebia’s Board of Directors,” said John P. Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Akebia. “On behalf of the entire Board I wanted to thank him for his dedication and service to Akebia, notably through the merger and the development, approval and commercialization of Vafseo® (vadadustat). We wish him the very best in his retirement.”

About Akebia Therapeutics 
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease. Akebia was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For more information, please visit our website at www.akebia.com, which does not form a part of this release. 

Forward-Looking Statements
Legal to add.

Akebia Therapeutics Contact 
Mercedes Carrasco 
mcarrasco@akebia.com   



Source: View Original Filing on SEC EDGAR

FAQ

What Board changes did Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) announce on April 1, 2026?

Akebia Therapeutics reported that Steven C. Gilman, Ph.D. retired from its Board and that Philip J. Vickers, Ph.D. joined as a Class I director effective April 1, 2026. Gilman’s resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company’s operations or policies.

Who is Philip J. Vickers and what role will he play at Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA)?

Philip J. Vickers, Ph.D. is a biopharmaceutical executive and CEO of Solu Therapeutics. He joined Akebia’s Board as a Class I director, serving on the Compensation Committee and Research & Development Committee, bringing more than three decades of global R&D and leadership experience.

How will Philip J. Vickers be compensated as a director of Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA)?

Under Akebia’s non-employee director program, Dr. Vickers is eligible for annual cash retainers of $50,000 for Board service, $7,500 for the Compensation Committee, and $5,000 for the Research & Development Committee, plus future annual option and restricted stock unit grants starting in 2027.

What initial equity award did Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) grant to Philip J. Vickers?

Akebia granted Dr. Vickers 214,400 stock options on April 1, 2026 as a new non-employee director. These options have an exercise price of $1.41 per share, aligning his potential upside with future shareholder value creation through the company’s stock performance.

When does Philip J. Vickers’ initial term on the Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) Board end?

Dr. Vickers’ initial term as a Class I director is scheduled to expire at Akebia’s 2027 annual meeting of stockholders. At that meeting, stockholders would typically vote on the re-election of directors whose terms are ending, consistent with the company’s classified Board structure.

What future annual equity grants can Philip J. Vickers receive from Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA)?

Commencing with the 2027 annual meeting, Dr. Vickers is eligible each year for an option to purchase 53,600 Akebia common shares and 35,700 restricted stock units. These equity awards are part of the company’s standard compensation program for non-employee directors.

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