Akero Therapeutics Announces Publication of Phase 2b SYMMETRY Cohort D Study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Core Insights - The addition of efruxifermin (EFX) to GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy shows a comparable safety and tolerability profile to EFX alone, with significant improvements in liver injury and metabolic health markers [1][2][3] Group 1: Study Results - A 12-week study assessed the safety and tolerability of EFX compared to placebo when added to a stable dose of GLP-1 receptor agonist in patients with Type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis due to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) [2] - Tolerability of EFX was similar to GLP-1RA alone, with the most common adverse events being mild gastrointestinal issues [3] - EFX treatment resulted in a 65% reduction in liver fat compared to a 10% reduction for GLP-1RA alone, with nearly 90% of EFX-treated patients normalizing liver fat levels [4] Group 2: Clinical Implications - EFX demonstrated greater improvements in non-invasive markers of liver injury and fibrosis compared to GLP-1RA alone, indicating its potential as a treatment option for patients with MASH already on GLP-1RA therapy [4][5] - The company is advancing EFX through Phase 3 clinical trials, including the SYNCHRONY Histology and Real-World studies, which are currently enrolling patients [5][8] Group 3: Product Overview - Efruxifermin (EFX) is a differentiated Fc-FGF21 fusion protein designed to mimic the biological activity of native FGF21, targeting liver fat reduction, inflammation, and fibrosis reversal [6] - MASH affects over 17 million Americans and is characterized by liver fat accumulation leading to serious health complications, with no approved treatments currently available [7][8]