Novo Nordisk has agreed to acquire clinical-stage Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion to integrate efruxifermin (EFX), a promising late-stage treatment for MASH, complementing Novo Nordisk's leadership in cardiometabolic disease.
Pharma giant Roche bought 89bio for up to $3.5B. The focus is pegozafermin, a promising drug for treating MASH (severe fatty liver disease). This deal positions Roche to transform care in metabolic diseases. Shares of 89bio surged 85% on Thursday.
The FDA accepted non-invasive Liver Stiffness Measurement as a surrogate endpoint for MASH clinical trials, replacing biopsies. This key decision accelerates MASH drug development by enabling safer monitoring, speeding recruitment, and predicting patient outcomes.
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) is now FDA-approved for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with liver scarring, a significant advancement for this serious condition.
