 Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. Nasdaq: AKBA, a biopharmaceutical company with the purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease, granted six newly-hired employees options to purchase an aggregate of 320,000 shares of Akebias common stock on June 30, 2020, including an option to purchase 280,000 shares granted to David Spellman, Akebias newly-hired Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer. The options were granted as inducements material to each such employees entering into employment with Akebia. The options were granted in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635c4. 