Akero's success in reversing cirrhosis follows that of Madrigal, making analysts and investors bullish on drugs to treat severe liver disease.

By Sriparna Roy (Reuters) -Akero Therapeutics shares gained 106% before the bell on Monday, after its lead drug showed it can help patients with a type of liver disease to reverse scarring of the organ without worsening the condition in a keenly awaited mid-stage trial.

Akero Therapeutics announced statistically significant results from a Phase 2b trial of efruxifermin this week, a fibroblast growth factor 21 analog, designed to treat patients with biopsy-confirmed compensated cirrhosis due to MASH.

Akero reported Monday strong results showing its drug efruxifermin reversed liver scarring in patients with cirrhosis caused by a disease known as MASH.

The data appeared to slam the door on the idea that the advent of GLP-1 drugs would eliminate demand for drugs specifically intended to treat MASH.

Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKRO) released preliminary topline week 96 results from SYMMETRY Phase 2b study evaluating the efficacy and safety of its lead product candidate efruxifermin (EFX) in patients with biopsy-confirmed compensated cirrhosis (F4),

Akero Therapeutics reports a 39% improvement in cirrhosis patients using EFX. See why AKRO stock is soaring with the breakthrough Phase 2b SYMMETRY data.

LONDON - RTW Biotech Opportunities Ltd (LSE: RTW), a London Stock Exchange-listed investment company, announced that its portfolio company, Akero Therapeutics (Nasdaq: NASDAQ:AKRO), has released preliminary topline results from a Phase 2b clinical trial that show its lead product candidate efruxifermin (EFX) may significantly reverse compensated cirrhosis caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).