Akero Sees Across-The-Board NASH Benefit With Efruxifermin, But Faces Competition

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. bolstered the profile of its FGF21 analog efruxifermin (EFX) as a noteworthy contender in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis during the recently concluded European liver meeting by showing potential benefit in cirrhotic patients and strong liver fat reduction data. While Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s thyroid receptor beta (THRβ) agonist resmetirom exited the meeting as the presumed clinical development leader in NASH, with pivotal Phase III data expected during the second half of 2022, EFX was cited by one analyst as the other NASH candidate that impressed.

Most of the data presentations at the European Association for the Study of the Liver meeting held 23-26 June were “incremental rather than transformative,” SVB Leerink analyst Thomas Smith said in a 27 June post-meeting note. This was true of data unveiled in NASH and other liver indications, he said