---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-22-313116"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AKBA"
cik: "0001517022"
company_name: "Akebia Therapeutics, Inc."
filed_at: "2022-12-28T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T22:25:46.352829+00:00"
event_type: "other_material"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Akebia licenses ferric citrate to Averoa for EU/UK; terminates BioVectra supply deal for $32.5M

## Summary
- Granted Averoa exclusive license to develop/commercialize ferric citrate in EEA, Turkey, Switzerland, UK; royalties mid-single to low double digit.
- Terminated BioVectra manufacturing/supply agreements for Auryxia (ferric citrate) effective immediately for business reasons.
- Company to pay BioVectra $32.5M: $17.5M upfront plus six quarterly $2.5M payments commencing April 2024.
- Mutual release of all claims under terminated agreements; company retains supply obligation to Averoa under new contract.
- Akebia may terminate supply agreement with Averoa on 24-month notice after January 1, 2024.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-22-313116
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AKBA
- cik: 0001517022
- company_name: Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-12-28T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: other_material
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 1.02, 2.05
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312522313116/0001193125-22-313116-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312522313116/d418020d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-313116
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-313116.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-22-313116.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. entered into License Agreement with Averoa SAS (effective 2022-12-22).
  - Action: entry
  - Agreement: license
  - Counterparty: Averoa SAS
  - Effective: 2022-12-22
  source text: On December 22, 2022 (the “Effective Date”), Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”), Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Keryx”), and Averoa SAS (“Averoa”) entered into a License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company granted to Averoa an exclusive license to develop and commercialize ferric citrate
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312522313116/0001193125-22-313116-index.htm
- Material Agreements
  Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. terminated Termination Agreement with BioVectra Inc. valued at $32,500,000 (effective 2022-12-22).
  - Action: termination
  - Agreement: supply
  - Counterparty: BioVectra Inc.
  - Value: $32,500,000
  - Effective: 2022-12-22
  source text: On December 22, 2022, Keryx and BioVectra Inc. (“BioVectra”), entered into a termination and settlement agreement (the “Termination Agreement”). Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, Keryx and BioVectra agreed, among other things, to terminate, effective immediately, any and all existing agreements entered into between the parties in connection with the manufacture and supply, by BioVectra to the Company, of ferric citrate drug substance (the “Product”) for the Company’s proprietary product, Auryxia, including but not limited to that certain Manufacture and Supply Agreement, dated May 26, 2017, as amended by the Amendment to Manufacture and Supply Agreement, dated December 11, 2017 (the “Manufacture and Supply Agreement”), and that certain Amended and Restated Product Manufacture and Supply and Facility Construction Agreement, dated September 4, 2020 (the “Supply and Facility Construction Agreement”) (such agreements, collectively, the “BioVectra Agreements”). The parties agreed to te
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312522313116/0001193125-22-313116-index.htm
- Restructurings & Charges
  Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. announced a restructuring with charges of $32,500,000 affecting supply of ferric citrate drug substance for Auryxia.
  - Type: restructuring
  - Charge: $32,500,000
  - Affected area: supply of ferric citrate drug substance for Auryxia
  source text: Under the terms of the Termination Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay to BioVectra a total of $32,500,000, consisting of (i) an upfront payment of $17,500,000 and (ii) six quarterly payments of $2,500,000 starting in April 2024, in consideration for the termination of the BioVectra Agreements
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1517022/000119312522313116/0001193125-22-313116-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.