Novo Nordisk has struck a deal to buy Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion, teeing up a showdown with Roche and others in a blockbuster liver disease market. Akero confirmed its status as a key name in the metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) space in February, when the publication of data that an analyst hailed as “transformational” doubled its share price. It recently emerged that Roche responded to the data by stepping up talks with 89bio, one of Akero’s chief rivals. Roche struck its 89bio buyout last month, moving to secure the biotech’s FGF21 analog pegozafermin. Now, Novo Nordisk has agreed to buy Akero for about $4.7 billion upfront.
Read the full article: Novo Inks Akero Buyout Worth up to $5.2B to Bag Late-Phase MASH Prospect //
Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/novo-inks-52b-akero-buyout-bag-late-phase-mash-prospect