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Akero Looks Ahead To Phase III In Cirrhotic NASH Despite Phase IIb Miss On Fibrosis

 
• By Joseph Haas

Already prepping Phase III trials of efruxifermin in pre-cirrhotic NASH patients, Akero says it will go ahead with Phase III plans in cirrhotic patients despite missing the fibrosis endpoint in a Phase IIb trial.

Mixed data
Investors and analysts differed on the meaning of Akero's latest NASH data • Source: Shutterstock

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. reported a mixed Phase IIb data readout for its FGF21 analog efruxifermin (EFX) in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis patients with cirrhosis on 10 October that led the stock to plummet, though multiple analysts praised the data as potentially best-in-class. The data also appeared to damage sentiment around the FGF21 class, as Akero’s direct competitor 89bio, Inc. also suffered a steep decline in share price.

Akero finished the trading day down nearly 63% at $18.15, while 89bio declined 37% to $9.77 despite no data catalysts of its own that day

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