John P. Butler

John Butler was appointed to the Board in April 2018. He has served as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and member of the Board of Directors of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. since 2013, where he has led the company through its IPO and multiple strategic partnering transactions. Previously Mr. Butler served as the Chief Executive Officer of Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. where he led the transactions that resulted in the sale of Inspiration’s hemophilia assets to Cangene Corporation and Baxter International for a total aggregate consideration that could exceed one billion dollars. From 1997 to 2011, Mr. Butler held various positions of increasing strategic importance at Genzyme Corporation, culminating in his tenure as President of the company’s rare genetic diseases business. Prior to his work at Genzyme, Mr. Butler held sales and marketing positions at Amgen and Hoffmann-La Roche. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Relypsa, Inc. from 2013 to 2016, and Chairman of the Board at Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, from 2015 to 2017. Mr. Butler received a B.A. in Chemistry from Manhattan College and an M.B.A. degree from Baruch College, City University of New York. Mr. Butler brings significant operational and commercial experience in the biotechnology sector to the Board, including the development and commercialization of products for the treatment of rare and near rare diseases.