Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership (4)

FORM 4 [ ] Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES
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Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^* Butler John P.	2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. [ AKBA ]	5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CEO and President
(Last) (First) (Middle) C/O AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS, INC., 245 FIRST STREET	3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YYYY) 2/26/2021
(Street) CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142 (City) (State) (Zip)	4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YYYY)	6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) _X _ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	3. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1.Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Trans. Date	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price		6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Common Stock	2/26/2021		A		237400.00 ⁽¹⁾	A	$0.00	1166732.00 ⁽²⁾	D
Common Stock	3/1/2021		S		25316.00 ⁽³⁾	D	$3.3961	1141416.00	D
Common Stock	3/1/2021		S		24674.00 ⁽⁴⁾	D	$3.3961	1116742.00	D
Common Stock								59928.00	I	Held by Dorothy Butler 2019 GRAT
Common Stock								100000.00	I	Held By Dorothy Butler GRAT November 2019
Common Stock								31047.00	I	Held by Dorothy Butler Revocable Trust 2007
Common Stock								59928.00	I	Held by John Butler 2019 GRAT
Common Stock								100000.00	I	Held By John Butler GRAT November 2019
Common Stock								31047.00	I	Held by John Butler Revocable Trust 2007

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)*
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	4. Trans. Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Trans. Date	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any	Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)			11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Employee Stock Option (Right to buy)	$3.46	2/26/2021		A		403600.00		⁽⁵⁾	2/26/2031	Common Stock	403600.00	$0.00	403600.00	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	The restricted stock units were granted by the Issuer pursuant to its 2014 Incentive Plan, as amended. One third of the restricted stock units will vest on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the reporting person's continued service with the Issuer on each vesting date.
(2)	Includes 1,500 shares of the Issuer's common stock purchased on June 30, 2020 and 1,200 shares of the Issuer's common stock purchased on December 31, 2020, each under the Issuer's 2014 Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and transfer of shares of the Issuer's common stock which were contributed to two grantor retained annuity trusts.
(3)	This sale was made automatically by the Issuer to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of one-third of the reporting person's restricted stock units granted on February 28, 2019.
(4)	This sale was made automatically by the Issuer to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting and settlement of one-third of the reporting person's restricted stock units granted on February 28, 2020.
(5)	The options were granted by the Issuer pursuant to its 2014 Incentive Plan, as amended. The options will vest over four years: 25% of the options will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date with the remaining 75% vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter, subject to the reporting person's continued service with the Issuer on each vesting date.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Butler John P. C/O AKEBIA THERAPEUTICS, INC. 245 FIRST STREET CAMBRIDGE, MA 02142	X		CEO and President