News Article
Novo Nordisk acquiring Akero Therapeutics for $5.2bn
Denmark-based global pharma company Novo Nordisk is to acquire clinical stage company Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2bn, filling a critical comorbidity gap within Novo Nordisk’s core therapeutic landscape.
The deal adds potential first-in-class MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis, a severe form of fatty liver disease) therapy.
This is Novo Nordisk’s largest R&D-focused acquisition to date, strategically aligning with its core expertise as over 80% of MASH patients are overweight or obese.
The acquisition includes Akero’s lead asset efruxifermin, which addresses late-stage MASH where few treatments exist, complementing anti-diabetic medication semaglutide’s current approval and creating a potential continuum of care from early to advanced disease stages.
MASH’s is the fastest-growing cause of liver transplants and cancer in Western markets.
The transaction represents a 17% premium to Akero’s closing price on October 8, 2025, and a 42% premium to its May 19, 2025 closing price prior to market speculation.
