Akero Therapeutics Inc.

• Akero Therapeutics Inc.
• NA

AKRO

We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing transformative treatments for serious metabolic diseases with high unmet medical need. Our initial focus is on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, a disease without any approved therapies.

NASH is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, characterized by inflammation and fibrosis in the liver that can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, cancer and death. NASH is a leading cause for liver transplantation. Our lead product candidate, AKR-001, which we are developing as a potential treatment for patients with NASH, is an analog of fibroblast growth factor 21, or FGF21. FGF21 is an endogenously-expressed hormone that regulates metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates and proteins throughout the body. FGF21 also plays a critical role in protecting many types of cells from various forms of stress. FGF21 analogs have shown evidence of therapeutic benefit in clinical trials of patients with NASH, many of whom are dyslipidemic and insulin resistant. In previous clinical trials in patients with type 2 diabetes, or T2D, administration of AKR-001 was associated with substantial improvements in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. We believe these data demonstrate AKR-001's potential to serve as a cornerstone for the treatment of NASH. On May 24, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, Division of Gastroenterology and Inborn Errors Products cleared our Investigational New Drug application, or IND, to conduct a Phase 2a clinical trial evaluating AKR-001 in the treatment of NASH patients. We plan to begin screening patients in our Phase 2a clinical trial in May 2019.

The rapidly-rising prevalence of NAFLD and NASH is driven by the global obesity epidemic. Poor diet and lack of exercise lead to caloric overburdening of the liver and accumulation of excessive liver fat. In patients with NASH, excessive liver fat leads to hepatocyte stress, which triggers localized inflammation and, as disease progresses, can lead to fibrosis and ultimately cirrhosis. According to a study published in Hepatology (2018), the prevalence of NASH in the United States is projected to increase from an estimated 17.3 million in 2016 to 27.0 million by 2030. In particular, the prevalence of patients with advanced fibrosis in the United States is projected to more than double between 2016 and 2030.

NASH is the liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome and is frequently associated with insulin resistance and T2D. Additionally, patients with NASH have high rates of cardiovascular-related events, such as stroke and heart attack, with cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of death in patients with NASH. There are currently no approved therapies for NASH, while emerging potential NASH therapies in late-stage clinical development have shown limited efficacy or may be limited by unwanted side effects. 

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