Novo Nordisk is making another bold move in the metabolic disease space with its latest agreement to acquire Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion, marking one of the year’s largest biotech takeovers. The deal strengthens Novo Nordisk’s expanding presence in liver and metabolic disorders, while delivering significant value to Akero’s shareholders.
Under the terms of the agreement announced Thursday, Akero investors will receive $54 per share in cash at closing, plus a contingent value right (CVR) worth up to an additional $6 per share. The CVR payment would be triggered upon full U.S. regulatory approval of Akero’s lead drug candidate, efruxifermin (EFX), for treating compensated cirrhosis due to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) by June 2031.
The acquisition values Akero at roughly $4.7 billion upfront, representing a 42% premium to its pre-rumor share price earlier this year. If all conditions are met, the total value could reach $5.2 billion — a 57% premium compared to Akero’s May 2025 valuation.
For Novo Nordisk, the deal builds on its leadership in GLP-1–based therapies and signals a deepening commitment to addressing complex metabolic diseases. Akero’s EFX program, designed to treat MASH, a condition historically known as NASH (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis), complements Novo Nordisk’s existing pipeline of cardiometabolic treatments. EFX’s potential to reverse fibrosis and improve liver function positions it as a promising therapy for millions of patients with few available options.
MASH has become a growing global health concern, closely linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes—areas where Novo Nordisk already dominates through blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. Integrating Akero’s research could help the Danish pharmaceutical giant extend its reach beyond diabetes and into liver health, strengthening its competitive advantage as demand for metabolic therapies surges worldwide.
Industry analysts see the deal as part of a broader wave of consolidation among biotechs developing metabolic and inflammatory treatments. Major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly acquiring smaller firms with advanced-stage assets to accelerate innovation and diversify revenue streams.
Akero’s ongoing Phase 3 SYNCHRONY trials have shown encouraging signs that EFX can reduce fibrosis and resolve MASH, potentially transforming the standard of care. The company’s holistic approach — improving both liver health and cardiovascular risk factors — aligns well with Novo Nordisk’s long-term goal of offering comprehensive solutions for metabolic dysfunction.
Following the acquisition, Akero’s operations will be integrated into Novo Nordisk’s global research network, with plans to advance EFX through late-stage trials and prepare for commercial launch. The transaction, unanimously approved by Akero’s board, is expected to close by year-end pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
Financial advisors for the deal include Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan Securities, with Kirkland & Ellis LLP serving as legal counsel to Akero.
The acquisition underscores Novo Nordisk’s strategy to expand beyond diabetes and obesity treatments into adjacent metabolic diseases with large unmet medical needs. If EFX achieves approval and commercial success, the deal could mark a defining moment in the evolution of liver disease therapeutics—and another milestone in Novo Nordisk’s transformation into a powerhouse across metabolic health.