Promising Phase 2b Results and Future Prospects for Akero Therapeutics’ Efruxifermin Boost Buy Rating

In a report released on May 9, Michael Ulz from Morgan Stanley maintained a Buy rating on Akero Therapeutics (AKRO – Research Report), with a price target of $90.00.

Michael Ulz has given his Buy rating due to a combination of factors, primarily centered around the promising results from Akero Therapeutics’ Phase 2b SYMMETRY study of efruxifermin (EFX). The 96-week data presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver Congress demonstrated a significant antifibrotic effect of EFX in patients with F4 MASH, showing improvement in fibrosis without worsening of the condition. This effect was consistent across various patient subgroups, regardless of background therapy or the presence of type-2 diabetes, which underscores the potential broad applicability of the treatment.
Furthermore, the study highlighted improvements in noninvasive measures of fibrosis, such as ELF scores and liver stiffness, which consistently improved over time. These findings suggest that the antifibrotic effect of EFX strengthens with prolonged treatment. Looking forward, the ongoing Phase 3 SYNCHRONY studies, with expected data releases in 2026 and 2027, provide a clear pathway for further validation of EFX’s efficacy, reinforcing the positive outlook for Akero Therapeutics’ stock.

In another report released on May 6, Bank of America Securities also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a $63.00 price target.