Akero Lead Candidate Improves Fibrosis In Cirrhotic NASH Patients

Akero Therapeutics Inc's AKRO results from Cohort C of its Phase 2a BALANCED trial in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) have been published in JHEP Reports.
NASH is a progressive liver disease that can lead to liver cancer, liver failure, and an increased risk of cardiac events. EFX is a long-acting FGF21 analog mimicking native FGF21's biological activities in vitro.
Study results showed that efruxifermin (EFX) was well-tolerated in this cohort of patients with compensated cirrhosis, similar to results observed in the BALANCED main study of patients with pre-cirrhotic NASH.
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33% of the patients improved by one fibrosis stage without worsening of NASH; 25% of patients treated with efruxifermin showed NASH resolution.
Over 16 weeks of treatment, liver stiffness and serum markers of fibrosis significantly decreased compared to baseline. EFX treatment also improved whole-body metabolism, significantly improved lipoprotein profile, and decreased HbA1c.
The company plans to share data from a larger Phase 2b HARMONY study in September and report the results from Phase 2b SYMMETRY study in patients with cirrhotic NASH in 2H of 2023.
Price Action: AKRO shares are up 3.07% at $12.42 on the last check Wednesday.