Akebia (AKBA) CCO Nicholas Grund receives RSUs and 320,000-share option grant

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Akebia Therapeutics’ Chief Commercial Officer Nicholas Grund received new equity awards, aligning his compensation with company performance. On January 30, 2026, he was granted 204,000 shares of common stock as restricted stock units at $0.00 per share, bringing his directly owned common stock to 646,579 shares.

He was also granted a stock option for 320,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.41 per share, expiring on January 30, 2036. The RSUs vest in three equal annual installments, while the options vest over four years, both subject to his continued service.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

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

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Grund Nicholas

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS, INC

245 FIRST ST.

(Street)

CAMBRIDGE MA 02142

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. [ AKBA ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Commercial Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/30/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	01/30/2026		A		204,000(1)	A	$0.00	646,579	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to buy)	$1.41	01/30/2026		A		320,000		(2)	01/30/2036	Common Stock	320,000	$0.00	320,000	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The restricted stock units were granted by the Issuer pursuant to its 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. One third of the restricted stock units will vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the reporting person's continued service with the Issuer on each vesting date.

2. The options were granted by the Issuer pursuant to its 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. The options will vest over four years: 25% of the options will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining 75% vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter, subject to the reporting person's continued service with the Issuer on each vesting date.

Remarks:

	/s/ Carolyn M. Rucci, attorney-in-fact for Nicholas Grund	02/03/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

What equity awards did Akebia Therapeutics (AKBA) grant to Nicholas Grund?

Akebia Therapeutics granted Chief Commercial Officer Nicholas Grund 204,000 restricted stock units and a stock option for 320,000 shares. The RSUs were granted at $0.00 per share, and the option has a $1.41 exercise price, aligning his pay with future company performance.

How do Nicholas Grund’s new restricted stock units at Akebia (AKBA) vest?

The 204,000 restricted stock units granted to Nicholas Grund vest in three equal installments. One third vests on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the January 30, 2026 grant date, contingent on his continued service with Akebia Therapeutics.

What are the key terms of Nicholas Grund’s stock option grant at Akebia (AKBA)?

Nicholas Grund received a stock option to buy 320,000 Akebia shares at an exercise price of $1.41. The option expires January 30, 2036 and vests over four years, with 25% after one year and the remaining 75% in equal quarterly installments.

How many Akebia (AKBA) shares does Nicholas Grund own after the reported Form 4?

Following the January 30, 2026 equity grant, Nicholas Grund beneficially owns 646,579 shares of Akebia common stock directly. This figure reflects his holdings after receiving 204,000 restricted stock units reported as an acquisition at a price of $0.00 per share.

Under which plan were Nicholas Grund’s Akebia (AKBA) equity awards granted?

Both the restricted stock units and stock options granted to Nicholas Grund were issued under Akebia Therapeutics’ 2023 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended. This plan governs the vesting schedules and requires his continued service for future vesting of the awards.