06:28 AM EDT, 10/09/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Akero Therapeutics ( AKRO ) said Thursday that it will be acquired by Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) in a deal valued at up to $5.2 billion in cash.

Under the terms of the agreement, the company said its shareholders will receive $54 per share upfront and a non-transferable contingent value right entitling its holder to receive an additional $6 per share if Akero's drug, efruxifermin, receives full US approval for cirrhosis due to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by June 30, 2031, the drugmaker said.

It added that the acquisition is expected to close by the end of the year.

Shares of Akero were up 19.6% in Thursday's premarket activity.