Oct 9 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk:

* TO ACQUIRE AKERO THERAPEUTICS AND ITS PROMISING PHASE 3

FGF21

ANALOGUE TO EXPAND MASH PORTFOLIO

* TO BUY AKERO FOR $4.7 BILLION IN CASH

* AKERO'S EFRUXIFERMIN SHOWS SIGNIFICANT FIBROSIS REGRESSION

IN

PHASE 2

* AKERO BOARD APPROVES DEAL, EXPECTED TO CLOSE YEAR-END

* DEAL NOT EXPECTED TO IMPACT NOVO NORDISK'S 2025 PROFIT

OUTLOOK

* 2025 FREE CASH FLOW OUTLOOK NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY $4

BILLION

* FOR 2026, ACQUISITION IS EXPECTED TO LEAD TO INCREASED

RESEARCH

AND DEVELOPMENT T COSTS

* NEGATIVE IMPACT ON FY OPERATING PROFIT GROWTH IN 2026 OF

AROUND

3%-POINTS

* IMPLIED 2025 FREE CASH FLOW OUTLOOK IS THEREFORE 9-19

BILLION

DKK DEPENDING ON TIMING OF CLOSING

* 2026 PROFIT GROWTH IMPACTED BY 3%-POINTS DUE TO RESEARCH

AND

DEVELOPMENT COSTS

* TRANSACTION WILL BE MAINLY DEBT FINANCED

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(Gdansk Newsroom)