Chief Medical Officer, Development Cambridge, MA

Company: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: May 24, 2025

Job Description:

Nearly 37 million Americans are currently affected by Chronic Kidney Disease. 37 million.At Akebia we take that number very seriously and every day we come to work, with the purpose of bettering the lives of each person impacted by kidney disease and the renal community that serves them.
Our tenacious, passionate employees' challenge the status quo and work to develop unique therapeutics that have the potential to set new standards of care for people living with kidney disease.This is life-changing work, and we are all in, are you?Akebia Therapeutics is seeking a dynamic and strategic Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to lead and execute its development programs. This role is pivotal in maximizing the value of Auryxia (ferric citrate), Vafseo (vadadustat), praliciguat, AKB-9090, AKB-10108, and future product candidates. The CMO will drive clinical and regulatory strategy, oversee NDA filings, and play a central role in shaping the company's future.
The ideal candidate will have a deep scientific background, a patient-centric mindset, and a strong sense of urgency in executing large-scale clinical studies. They must be a skilled communicator, capable of engaging a wide range of stakeholders including executive leadership, patients, advocacy groups, Key Medical Experts (KMEs), investors, the Board of Directors, regulatory authorities, and potential partners.Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across Akebia's product development efforts in close collaboration with the CEO, Board, and executive team.
• Lead and oversee clinical and regulatory initiatives, including protocol development, regulatory submissions (e.g., NDAs), and post-marketing requirements.
• Develop and implement clinical strategies that support the launch of Vafseo and other pipeline assets.
• Optimize clinical trials for efficacy, safety, timelines, and cost-efficiency.
• Ensure rigorous adherence to patient safety standards and proactively manage safety signals and pharmacovigilance activities in both pre- and post-marketing settings.
• Represent Akebia with key external audiences, including regulators, advisory committees, KMEs, patient advocacy groups, and scientific communities.
• Build and lead Clinical Advisory Boards to guide drug development strategy.
• Partner with commercial teams to communicate product value to prescribers and payers.
• Serve as a spokesperson for the company at scientific meetings, investor presentations, and in peer-reviewed publications.
• Advise on business development opportunities, including licensing and acquisition of new assets.
• Attract, retain, and develop high-performing clinical and regulatory teams, including employees, contractors, and consultants.
• Support the identification and growth of new R&D programs aligned with Akebia's mission.Basic Qualifications:
  • 15+ years of experience in biopharmaceutical product development
  • 10+years in a leadership position
  • MD is required.
  • Advanced medical training and/or experience in renal, hematology, or cardiovascular diseases is required.
  • Must have global experience (at the minimum in the US and EU) across all phases of development; have designed and led large, global clinical trials and helped to shepherd a product to regulatory approval; and serve as an effective leaderPreferred Qualifications:
    • Strong understanding of late-stage product development, including clinical trial management, post-launch marketing, post-approval studies, regulatory affairs, and GXP.
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Ability to build cross-functional relationships and work collaboratively with other groups, both internally and externally.Compensation:
      Targeted Base: 409,260 -505,556*
      *Base Compensation for this role will depend on a number of factors including a candidate's qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience, and may fall outside of the range shown. Base pay is only one component of the company's total rewards package, all regular employees are also eligible for the corporate bonus program or the incentive compensation program (if applicable), as well as equity. Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, etc.
      Are you an Akebian?
      An Akebian is curious, empathetic, and values making connections to people and ideas. Akebian's aren't afraid of diving in and owning a process or a problem, because we all want to deliver a great solution. Akebian's believe that we are better together because we are all working toward a common purpose - to better the life of each person impacted by kidney disease. Want to learn more about what it means to be an Akebian? Visit our website: www.akebia.comAkebia is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all job applicants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.
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Keywords: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc., Nashua , Chief Medical Officer, Development Cambridge, MA, Executive , Cambridge, New Hampshire