Ardelyx Appoints Renowned Nephrologist, Geoffrey A. Block, M.D., to Its Board of Directors

Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARDX), today announced the appointment of Geoffrey A. Block, M.D., Vice President, Nephrology at Reata and former Director of Clinical Research in the Denver Nephrology Research Division at Colorado Kidney Care/Denver Nephrologists, to the company's board of directors, effective March 14, 2019.  

Dr. Block is one of the world's preeminent nephrologists and a trailblazer in leading clinical development for drugs focused on enhancing the care and treatment of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. Dr. Block has participated extensively in guiding the development of tenapanor, Ardelyx's lead product candidate in Phase 3 clinical trials for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients on dialysis.

"We are delighted to welcome Geoff to our board of directors," said Mike Raab, president and chief executive officer of Ardelyx. "Geoff is a long-time advisor, and it is his work that inspired me to focus on the needs of patients in the renal community almost 20 years ago. As a pioneer in nephrology research and patient care, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Ardelyx board and serves as a strong endorsement of tenapanor and its potential to improve treatment options for the many patients on dialysis with hyperphosphatemia."

"Despite widespread recognition in the nephrology community that hyperphosphatemia is clearly and distinctly associated with morbidity and mortality in patients on dialysis, we have seen little improvement on how phosphorus is managed," said Dr. Block. "I view tenapanor as an important new development in the field with the potential to offer patients a highly differentiated alternative to phosphate binders, which patients find terribly inconvenient, impacting their compliance and ability to keep phosphate levels under control."

Dr. Block currently serves as Vice President, Nephrology at Reata Pharmaceuticals and previously served as an associate clinical professor in Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, as an attending physician at St. Joseph's Hospital, and as the medical director of the DaVita-Lowry Hemodialysis Unit. Dr. Block received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his fellowship in nephrology at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

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