Akero shares double after preliminary results from mid-stage trial for liver disease drug (updated)

Akero Therapeutics

27/01/2025 12:25

(Adds trial details in paragraph 3, analyst comment in
paragraph 4)
       Jan 27 (Reuters) - Akero Therapeutics  AKRO.O  shares
gained 106% before the bell on Monday after its lead drug helped
patients with a type of liver disease to reverse scarring of the
organ without the worsening of the condition in a keenly awaited
mid-stage trial.
    The experimental drug efruxifermin is being studied in
patients with scarring due to a type of fatty liver disease
known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
(MASH).
    In the trial, 39% of patients treated with 50 milligram dose
of the drug experienced reversal of cirrhosis, or liver
scarring, with no worsening of MASH, compared to 15% of those
who received placebo.
    This represents the first successful trial to meaningfully
support the potential multibillion-dollar opportunity in the
underserved population of patients with biopsy-confirmed
compensated cirrhosis in MASH, said Citi analyst Jonathan Woo.
    MASH, which was earlier known as NASH or non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis, affects around 5% of adults in the U.S.,
according to the American Liver Foundation, making it a large
patient population.
    
    
    
    
    

 (Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna
Chandra Eluri and Mrigank Dhaniwala)
 ((Sriparna.Roy@thomsonreuters.com;))