Akero Therapeutics, Inc., a cardio-metabolic biotechnology company developing transformational treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced it has screened the first patients for its Phase 2b HARMONY study evaluating efruxifermin (EFX),
| SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Akero Therapeutics, Inc., a cardio-metabolic biotechnology company developing transformational treatments for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), today announced it has screened the first patients for its Phase 2b HARMONY study evaluating efruxifermin (EFX), the company’s lead product candidate for the treatment of NASH.
Akero launches Phase 2b study of EFX in NASH patients with F2/F3 fibrosis, moving forward potential foundational monotherapy “The initiation of our Phase 2b HARMONY study is an important milestone that builds on strong data from our Phase 2a BALANCED study,” said Andrew Cheng, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Akero Therapeutics. “We previously showed that EFX has the potential to reverse fibrosis among treatment responders after just 16 weeks of treatment. The HARMONY study will evaluate fibrosis improvement among all study participants after 24 weeks of treatment. We continue to believe that EFX has the potential to be a foundational NASH monotherapy by directly reversing fibrosis and resolving the underlying disease drivers that lead to fibrosis, and by improving risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of mortality for NASH patients.” The Phase 2b HARMONY study is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in biopsy-confirmed NASH patients with fibrosis stage 2 or 3. Patients will be randomized to receive once-weekly subcutaneous dosing of 28 or 50mg EFX or placebo. The primary endpoint for the trial is fibrosis regression at 24 weeks. Patients will continue to receive EFX or placebo during a long-term follow-up period to provide additional safety data. The company expects to dose patients beginning early in the second quarter of this year and to report topline results in the second half of 2022. About NASH About Efruxifermin About the Phase 2a BALANCED Study An expansion cohort (Cohort C) evaluated EFX for treatment of cirrhotic NASH patients (F4 fibrosis) and enrolled 30 patients randomized to receive once-weekly subcutaneous dosing of 50mg or placebo. Topline results of Cohort C, including the results of voluntary end-of-treatment biopsies, will be reported in the first half of this year. About Akero Therapeutics Forward-Looking Statements Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s business plans and objectives, including future plans or expectations for EFX, upcoming milestones, and therapeutic effects of EFX, as well as the dosing, safety and tolerability of EFX; Akero’s Phase 2b HARMONY study including results and expected timing to complete the Phase 2b trial and Cohort C; and the potential impact of COVID-19 on strategy, future operations, enrollment and clinical trials. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: risks related to the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s ongoing and future operations, including potential negative impacts on Akero’s employees, third-parties, manufacturers, supply chain and production as well as on global economies and financial markets; the success, cost, and timing of the Company’s product candidate development activities and planned clinical trials; the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy; positive results from a clinical study may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing clinical studies; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; the Company’s ability to fund operations; as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth more fully under the caption “Risk Factors” in Akero’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties and other important factors in Akero’s other filings and reports with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Akero undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Investor Contact: Media Contact:
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