Blue Earth Diagnostics Announces Positive Results from Head-to-Head Comparator Study of POSLUMA® (Flotufolastat F 18) and Piflufolastat F 18 Urinary Bladder Radioactivity in Men with Biochemical Recurrence of Prostate Cancer

On February 27, 2026 Blue Earth Diagnostics, a Bracco company and recognized leader in the development and commercialization of innovative positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals, reported results from the first head-to-head study comparing urinary bladder radioactivity between two prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted PET radiopharmaceuticals. This prospective, multicenter, intra-patient comparison evaluated urinary radioactivity and lesion detection rates of POSLUMA (flotufolastat F 18) and piflufolastat F 18 in men with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy.

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The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating statistically significant lower urinary bladder radioactivity with POSLUMA compared with piflufolastat F 18, as measured by mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean). Across 55 evaluable patients, median bladder SUVmean was 10.9 for POSLUMA and 29.0 for piflufolastat F 18, with a median difference of 15.1 (interquartile range, 8.5–27.0; p<0.001). Lower urinary radioactivity may help optimize image assessment in regions close to the bladder and ureters, where small recurrent prostate cancer lesions can be challenging to distinguish from urinary activity.

Secondary analyses showed higher patient-level and region-level detection rates with POSLUMA compared with piflufolastat F 18, including among patients with very low PSA levels (≤0.2 ng/mL). In this subgroup, majority-read patient-level detection rates were 52.4% with POSLUMA and 38.1% with piflufolastat F 18. Detection rates were also higher with POSLUMA in the prostate bed and extra-pelvic regions.

No significant safety concerns were observed for either radiopharmaceutical.

Biochemical recurrence refers to a rising PSA level after surgery in a patient who previously had undetectable PSA and can be an early sign that prostate cancer has returned, even before it is visible on conventional imaging. PET tracers that can help clearly show small areas of recurrent disease at very low PSA levels may support earlier and more informed clinical care decisions1.

"For men who have already undergone surgery for prostate cancer, a rising PSA can be deeply concerning, especially when conventional imaging cannot clearly show whether or where the disease has returned," said Dr. Eugene Teoh, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Earth Diagnostics. "This head-to-head study provides important clinical evidence from a rigorous intra-patient comparison, demonstrating that POSLUMA exhibits significantly lower urinary radioactivity while maintaining meaningful detection capability in men with early biochemical recurrence. Urinary activity can impact image interpretation, which is of particular consideration at very low PSA levels, where precise localization is critical. These results reinforce the role of POSLUMA as a PSMA-PET imaging agent intelligently designed to support confident image assessment in anatomically challenging regions and reflect our continued commitment to advancing molecular imaging through high-quality clinical evidence."

"This rigorous head-to-head study provides high quality evidence that POSLUMA has significantly lower urinary bladder radioactivity compared to piflufolastat F 18, confirming prior studies," said Phillip Kuo, Kuo Radiology LLC. "POSLUMA also exhibited higher detection rates for recurrence compared to piflufolastat F 18, which highlights its potential to improve patient management."

Results from Blue Earth Diagnostics’ head-to-head study have been published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and were just presented at the 2026 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU), on February 26, 2026, in San Francisco, California.

About the Head-to-Head Comparator Study
A prospective, multicenter, intra-patient head-to-head comparator study evaluating the urinary bladder radioactivity and lesion detection rates of POSLUMA (flotufolastat F 18) and piflufolastat F 18 in men with low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) biochemical recurrence (BCR) of prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy. A total of 55 patients were evaluated with BCR and PSA levels ≤0.5 ng/mL. The study’s primary endpoint was a calculated difference in bladder SUVmean as determined by quantification software. Secondary endpoints were detection rate analyses including patient level and subgroups, PSA level, prostate bed and related subregions, and pelvic lymph nodes.

(Press release, Blue Earth Diagnostics, FEB 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234663134])

ENHERTU Supplemental New Drug Application Submitted in Japan as Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with HER2 Positive Early Breast Cancer

On February 27, 2026 Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) reported that it has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for ENHERTU (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as an adjuvant therapy for patients with HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+ or in-situ hybridization (ISH)+) breast cancer with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy.

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ENHERTU is a specifically engineered HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan.

The sNDA is based on data from the DESTINY‑Breast05 phase 3 trial presented at the 2025 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) (#ESMO25) Congress and subsequently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In the trial, ENHERTU demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) compared to trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer with residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant therapy.

Press Release
ENHERTU Supplemental New Drug Application Submitted in Japan as Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with HER2 Positive Early Breast Cancer
Published : February 27, 2026
Ref: Daiichi Sankyo
Submission based on DESTINY-Breast05 phase 3 trial results, which showed ENHERTU reduced the risk of invasive disease recurrence or death by 53% compared to T-DM1
If approved, ENHERTU has the potential to become a new standard of care in this early breast cancer setting
Tokyo – (February 27, 2026) – Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for ENHERTU (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as an adjuvant therapy for patients with HER2 positive (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+ or in-situ hybridization (ISH)+) breast cancer with residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant therapy.

ENHERTU is a specifically engineered HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo in Japan.

The sNDA is based on data from the DESTINY‑Breast05 phase 3 trial presented at the 2025 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) (#ESMO25) Congress and subsequently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In the trial, ENHERTU demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) compared to trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer with residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant therapy.

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"New adjuvant treatment options for breast cancer are needed to help reduce the likelihood of disease recurrence and improve long-term outcomes for more patients," said Yuki Abe, PhD, Head of R&D Division in Japan and Head of Research, Daiichi Sankyo. "This submission demonstrates our commitment to bring ENHERTU to patients in this curative-intent breast cancer setting."

ENHERTU received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) based on DESTINY-Breast05, and a regulatory submission is also under review in the European Union. Two additional submissions are under review in Japan, including ENHERTU in combination with pertuzumab for the first-line treatment of patients with HER2 positive unresectable or recurrent breast cancer based on data from DESTINY-Breast09 and ENHERTU for the treatment of patients with HER2 positive advanced or recurrent solid tumors refractory or intolerant to standard treatments based on HERALD, an investigatorinitiated trial conducted in Japan, DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-CRC02 and DESTINY-Lung01.

About DESTINY-Breast05

DESTINY-Breast05 is a global, multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) versus T-DM1 in patients with HER2 positive early breast cancer with residual invasive disease in breast or axillary lymph nodes following neoadjuvant therapy and a high risk of recurrence. High risk of recurrence was defined as presentation with inoperable cancer (prior to neoadjuvant therapy) or pathologically positive axillary lymph nodes following neoadjuvant therapy.

The primary endpoint of DESTINY-Breast05 is investigator-assessed IDFS, which is defined as the time from randomization until first invasive local, axillary or distant recurrence or death from any cause. The key secondary endpoint is investigator-assessed disease-free survival. Other secondary endpoints include overall survival, distant recurrence-free interval, brain metastases-free interval and safety.

DESTINY-Breast05 enrolled 1,635 patients in Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.
About ENHERTU

ENHERTU (trastuzumab deruxtecan; fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki in the U.S. only) is a HER2 directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC Technology, ENHERTU is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced program in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. ENHERTU consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) in combination with pertuzumab is approved in the U.S. as a first-line treatment for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast09 trial.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 90 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer who have received a prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 90 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 60 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR) positive, HER2 low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ ISH-) or HER2 ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by a locally or regionally approved test, that have progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast06 trial.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 70 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic NSCLC whose tumors have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 and/or DESTINY-Lung05 trials. Continued approval in China and the U.S. for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

ENHERTU (6.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 80 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2 positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+) gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01, DESTINY-Gastric02 and/or DESTINY-Gastric04 trials.

ENHERTU (5.4 mg/kg) is approved in more than 10 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 positive (IHC 3+) solid tumors who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based on efficacy results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-Lung01 and DESTINY-CRC02 trials. Continued approval in the U.S. for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

About the ENHERTU Clinical Development Program

A comprehensive global clinical development program is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of ENHERTU as a monotherapy or in combination or sequentially with other cancer medicines across multiple HER2 targetable cancers.

About the Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca Collaboration

Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize ENHERTU in March 2019 and DATROWAY in July 2020, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights for each ADC. Daiichi Sankyo is responsible for the manufacturing and supply of ENHERTU and DATROWAY.

About the ADC Portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo

The Daiichi Sankyo ADC portfolio consists of eight ADCs in clinical development crafted from ADC technology discovered in-house by Daiichi Sankyo.

The DXd ADC Technology platform of Daiichi Sankyo consists of seven ADCs in clinical development where each ADC is comprised of a monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. The DXd ADCs include ENHERTU and DATROWAY, which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with AstraZeneca, and ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd), raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) and patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), which are being jointly developed and commercialized globally with Merck & Co., Inc, Rahway, NJ, USA. DS-3939 and DS3790 are being developed by Daiichi Sankyo.

An additional ADC being developed by Daiichi Sankyo is DS3610, which consists of an antibody attached to a novel payload that acts as an agonist of STING.

Ifinatamab deruxtecan, raludotatug deruxtecan, patritumab deruxtecan, DS-3939, DS3610 and DS3790 are investigational medicines that have not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
About HER2 Positive Early Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.1 More than two million breast cancer cases were diagnosed in 2022, with more than 665,000 deaths globally.1 In Japan, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with approximately 92,000 cases diagnosed and 17,600 deaths in 2022.2

HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of many types of tumors including breast cancer.3 HER2 protein overexpression may occur as a result of HER2 gene amplification and is often associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis in breast cancer.3 Approximately one in five cases of breast cancer is considered HER2 positive.4

For patients with HER2 positive early breast cancer, achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) with neoadjuvant treatment is the earliest indicator of improved long-term survival.5 However, approximately half of patients who receive neoadjuvant treatment do not experience pCR, putting them at increased risk of disease recurrence.6,7,8,9,10

Despite receiving additional treatment for residual disease in the post-neoadjuvant setting, some patients still experience invasive disease or death and current treatment options have shown limited impact on central nervous system recurrence. 11 Once patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease, the five-year survival rate drops from nearly 90% to approximately 30%.12

Post-neoadjuvant therapy represents a key opportunity to minimize the risk of recurrence and prevent progression to metastatic disease for patients with residual disease. New treatment options are needed in the early breast cancer setting to help reduce the likelihood of disease progression and improve long-term outcomes for more patients.

(Press release, Daiichi Sankyo, FEB 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234663091])

WuXi XDC Enters Strategic Collaboration with Earendil Labs on WuXiTecan-2 Payload-Linker Technology Platform

On February 27, 2026 WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. ("WuXi XDC", stock code: 2268.HK), a leading global CRDMO (Contract Research, Development, and Manufacturing Organization) specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other bioconjugates, reported a strategic collaboration with Earendil Labs on WuXi XDC’s proprietary WuXiTecan-2 payload-linker technology platform. Earendil Labs is an AI-powered biotech company focused on researching and developing next-generation innovative biologics for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and other conditions with unmet medical needs. This collaboration marks the establishment of a robust strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the development of next-generation ADCs by synergistically combining WuXi XDC’s globally leading ADC technology platform with Earendil Labs’ cutting-edge AI-driven antibody discovery and development capabilities to address significant unmet medical needs.

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Under the agreement, WuXi XDC will grant Earendil Labs an exclusive global license to its proprietary WuXiTecan-2 payload-linker technology for use against multiple specific targets. Earendil Labs will utilize this technology to conjugate antibodies and bispecific antibodies discovered through its AI platform and to advance the development of the ADC candidates against these specific targets. The total potential deal value could reach up to approximately $885 million, comprising an upfront payment, and certain development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments. Additionally, WuXi XDC will be eligible to receive tiered royalties on net sales upon commercialization of any resulting ADC products.

Leveraging its world-leading integrated CRDMO platform, WuXi XDC will also fully support the Chemical, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) development and manufacturing of the ADC components within the collaboration. Earendil Labs will focus on subsequent product development, global regulatory submissions, and commercialization. This complementary partnership ensures maximized resource utilization and efficient project progression.

Jimmy Li, PhD, CEO of WuXi XDC, stated, "We are very pleased to establish this strategic partnership with Earendil Labs. This collaboration not only fully demonstrates the value of our WuXiTecan-2 payload-linker technology platform but also marks another significant milestone for WuXi XDC in empowering cutting-edge innovation alongside our partners. Earendil Labs has generated bispecific antibodies with differentiated advantages using its unique AI platform. Combining these with our WuXiTecan-2 technology helps develop more effective and safer next-generation ADCs. We look forward to supporting Earendil Labs in accelerating the R&D and commercialization of their ADCs through our integrated, end-to-end CRDMO service platform, ultimately benefiting patients worldwide."

Jian Peng, PhD, CEO of Earendil Labs, said, "Partnering with WuXi XDC represents a critical step in our mission to transform biopharmaceutical R&D through AI. WuXi XDC possesses a globally recognized and validated ADC technology platform and end-to-end manufacturing capabilities. This collaboration is a powerful alliance between frontier AI exploration and WuXi XDC’s integrated CRDMO services. We eagerly anticipate working closely with WuXi XDC to drive innovative breakthroughs through technological integration, empowering high-quality development in the global biopharma industry and contributing to the health of patients globally."

Zhenping Zhu, MD, PhD, President & co-CEO of Earendil Labs, added, "ADCs are emerging as a promising class of therapeutics in the treatment of cancer and many other human diseases. At Earendil Labs, we are developing a rich pipeline of bispecific / multi-specific ADCs utilizing our cutting-edge AI and high-throughput biology plaforms. We believe WuXiTecan-2 payload-linker technology will significantly enhance the success rate and speed of our novel ADC development, ultimately bringing these potentially life-transforming treatments to patients worldwide as soon as possible."

(Press release, Earendil Labs, FEB 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234663135])

Biocytogen Announces Clinical Milestone with First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Trial of IDEAYA’s First-in-Class B7H3/PTK7 Bispecific TOP1 ADC IDE034

On February 27, 2026 Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (Biocytogen, SSE: 688796; HKEX: 02315), a global biotechnology company that drives the research and development of novel antibody-based drugs with innovative technologies, reported that its partner IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. ("IDEAYA"; Nasdaq: IDYA) has dosed the first patient in IDEAYA’s Phase 1 dose-escalation/expansion clinical trial of IDE034, an investiagational B7H3/PTK7 bispecific TOP1 ADC. Pursuant to the companies’ option and license agreement, first patient dosing triggers a $5 million milestone payment to Biocytogen.

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According to IDEAYA, the Phase 1 study is designed to characterize IDE034’s safety profile, tolerability, and PK as a monotherapy, and IDEAYA also intends to evaluate combination regimens with DNA damage response (DDR) -targeting agents such as its oral PARG inhibitor IDE161 as the program advances.

IDE034 is a potential first-in-class bispecific B7H3/PTK7 TOP1 ADC, independently developed by Biocytogen and licensed to IDEAYA in July 2024. IDEAYA has stated that IDE034 is designed to preferentially internalize in tumor cells co-expressing B7H3 and PTK7, supporting selectivity and tolerability, and estimates 30–40% co-expression across several major solid tumors with limited dual expression in normal tissues.

"Reaching first dosing in the IDE034 Phase 1 trial marks an important step in translating this bispecific TOP1 ADC concept into clinical evaluation," said Dr. Yuelei Shen, President and CEO of Biocytogen. "We appreciate IDEAYA’s strong execution in advancing IDE034 into the clinic and look forward to the readout of initial safety and PK data from the ongoing Phase 1 study."

(Press release, Biocytogen, FEB 27, 2026, View Source [SID1234663136])

Akebia Therapeutics Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Commercial and Pipeline Highlights

On February 26, 2026 Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKBA), a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 and recent business highlights related to the commercial launch of Vafseo (vadadustat) as well as its robust pipeline.

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"Vafseo commercial trends are showing marked improvement in early 2026, built on the solid foundation we created for the brand in its first year of launch," said John P. Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Akebia. "Patient access to Vafseo therapy now stands at 290,000 patients, and early data points to improved patient adherence rates, which we believe are enhanced as a result of dialysis organizations deciding to implement observed dosing protocols. These dynamics, along with the building evidence of clinical differentiation, are expected to drive significant Vafseo revenue growth in 2026 and beyond as we work toward our goal to make Vafseo standard of care for treating anemia due to CKD in patients on dialysis. Separately, we are advancing our pipeline in rare kidney disease and actively enrolling patients into the Phase 2 trial of praliciguat in FSGS. We expect to initiate an open-label rare kidney disease basket study with our tissue-targeted complement inhibitor, AKB-097, in the second half of 2026 with initial data expected in 2027. Through these efforts, we remain steadfast in working to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease."

Vafseo Q4 2025 Commercial Updates

•Total number of prescribers increased to approximately 800 in Q4, representing an increase of 10% over the number of prescribers in Q3.
•Broadened customer base as approximately 25% of new patients in Q4 originated from dialysis organizations other than U.S. Renal Care (USRC), an increase from less than 10% in Q3.
•Patient demand was approximately $11 million. This approximately $1 million decline in demand versus Q3 was driven by fewer patient starts, which Akebia believes was a result of providers at select dialysis organizations anticipating the initiation of new in-center observed dosing protocols.
•Within centers that adopted an in-center observed dosing protocol in Q4, first refill adherence rates improved to 91% in Q4 from 75% in the first 9 months of 2025 with daily dosing.
2025 Vafseo Post Marketing Clinical Development Achievements

•In November at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2025, Dr. Glenn M. Chertow presented a post-hoc analysis of data from the INNO2VATE trials comparing dialysis patients taking vadadustat or darbepoetin alfa for CKD-related anemia. The data demonstrated statistically significant favorable outcomes in the hierarchical composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and hospitalization in patients treated with vadadustat compared to patients in the erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) control group.
•In July, enrolled the first patient in VOCAL, a Phase IIIb trial evaluating three times weekly (TIW) dosing of Vafseo versus ESAs, which is expected to report topline data in Q4 2026. The VOCAL trial of approximately 350 total patients also contains a sub-study of Vafseo’s impact on red blood cell characteristics.
•In June, USRC completed enrollment in VOICE, a large Phase IV trial of over 2,100 patients evaluating Vafseo TIW against standard-of-care ESAs using a hierarchical composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and all-cause hospitalization. VOICE topline results are expected in early 2027.

Rare Kidney Disease and Early-Stage Pipeline Progress

•Initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial of praliciguat, an oral, once-daily soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator being evaluated for the treatment of biopsy-confirmed FSGS, a rare kidney disease, and dosed the first patient in December 2025. Akebia expects to enroll approximately 60 patients in this trial.
•In November 2025, Akebia acquired a humanized anti-C3d monoclonal antibody fusion protein from Q32 Bio Inc. which is designed to act as a complement inhibitor through a tissue-targeted mechanism. A Phase 2 open-label rare kidney disease basket study is expected to start in the second half of 2026 evaluating AKB-097 in IgA nephropathy, lupus nephritis and C3 glomerulopathy. The study will evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and effects on disease-relevant biomarkers, including proteinuria and measures of kidney function. Initial data is expected in 2027.

•Akebia plans to initiate a Phase 1 study of AKB-9090 in healthy volunteers. The study is expected to begin in the first half of 2026 with topline data expected by the end of the year. The initial target indication for AKB-9090 is the treatment of acute kidney injury associated with cardiac surgery.

Financial Results

•Revenues: Total revenues were $57.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $46.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $236.2 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $160.2 million for the full-year 2024. These increases were driven by sales of Vafseo, which was launched in the U.S. in January 2025, and an increase in Auryxia (ferric citrate) sales volumes.
◦Vafseo net product revenues were $6.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 and $45.8 million for the full-year 2025.

◦Auryxia net product revenues were $48.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $44.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $181.5 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $152.2 million for the full-year 2024. We expect generic competition for Auryxia to expand this year beyond the current authorized generic competition and therefore expect Auryxia revenues to decrease in 2026 as compared to 2025 Auryxia revenues.

◦License, collaboration and other revenues were $3.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $8.9 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $8.0 million for the full-year 2024.
•COGS: Cost of goods sold was $12.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $20.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $39.5 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $63.2 million for the full-year 2024. COGS in both periods was driven by higher Auryxia sales volumes in 2025, and was impacted by the elimination in 2025 of a quarterly $9.0 million non-cash intangible amortization charge that Akebia incurred through the fourth quarter of 2024. In addition, COGS for the full-year 2024 included a $12.3 million benefit due to our ability to sell inventory previously written-down as excess inventory. Of note, Vafseo-related COGS in both periods was derived from pre-launch inventory, which does not include the full cost of manufacturing as a portion of those inventory-related expenses were recorded as research and development expenses in the period incurred prior to Vafseo’s approval in the U.S.

•R&D Expenses: Research and development expenses were $26.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $62.4 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $37.7 million for the full-year 2024. The increase in expenses in both periods was driven by increased clinical trial activities related to Vafseo and our other product candidates, higher headcount related costs, as well as by a $12.8 million charge incurred during the fourth quarter of 2025 related to acquired in-process R&D costs associated with the acquisition of AKB-097 from Q32 Bio Inc.
•SG&A Expenses: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $26.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to $27.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, and $107.5 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $106.5 million for the full-year 2024.
•Net Loss: Net loss was $12.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to a net loss of $22.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net loss was $5.3 million for the full-year 2025 compared to $69.4 million for the full-year 2024. The decrease in net loss in both periods was driven by the increase in net product revenues, which was partially offset by higher expenses.

•Cash Position: Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2025, were approximately $184.8 million compared to $51.9 million as of December 31, 2024. Akebia expects its existing cash resources and cash from operations will be sufficient to fund its current operating plan for at least two years.

Conference Call

Akebia will host a conference call on Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. EST to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings. To access the call, please register by clicking on this Registration Link, and you will be provided with dial in details. To avoid delays and ensure timely connection, we encourage dialing into the conference call 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled start time.

A live webcast of the conference call will be available via the "Investors" section of Akebia’s website at: View Source/." target="_blank" title="View Source/." rel="nofollow">View Source An online archive of the webcast can be accessed via the Investors section of Akebia’s website at View Source approximately two hours after the event.

(Press release, Akebia, FEB 26, 2026, View Source [SID1234663058])