Akero Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for serious metabolic liver diseases. Headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company is best known for its work in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), also referred to as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Akero is listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker AKRO.
Akero’s lead program is efruxifermin (EFX), a long-acting analogue of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) designed to address key drivers of NASH/MASH by improving metabolic regulation and reducing liver fat, inflammation, and fibrosis. EFX has been evaluated in mid- and late-stage clinical studies for patients with moderate to advanced fibrosis and for those with compensated cirrhosis due to NASH/MASH. The company’s R&D efforts center on endocrine pathways with the goal of delivering disease-modifying treatments for metabolic liver conditions.
Novo Nordisk acquired Akero for $4.7B, with a $0.5B contingent on EFX approval. Akero is now a subsidiary, and its stock is delisted from Nasdaq.
Operating profit rose 5% in DKK, 10% at CER. Obesity care sales up 37%. FDA approved Wegovy® for MASH. Novo Nordisk to acquire Akero Therapeutics. Full-year sales growth forecast at 8-11% CER.
Novo Nordisk acquires Akero for $4.7B, adding efruxifermin, a promising MASH treatment, to its portfolio. The deal includes a $0.5B contingent value right upon regulatory approval.
