Akero Therapeutics (AKRO) said Friday that results of a phase 2b trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated the potential of efruxifermin to improve fibrosis in compensated cirrhosis caused by metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

The study found more patients receiving the treatment reached the primary endpoint of at least a 1-stage improvement in liver fibrosis with no worsening of their MASH symptoms, compared with patients who received a placebo, Akero said.

The company said 19% of the patients treated with 50 milligrams of efruxifermin and 18% of the patients in the 28-milligram active group met the primary endpoint of the trial after 36 weeks, compared with 13% of the patients in the placebo group.

The study continued for a total of 96 weeks, with most of the patients who showed improvement at 36 weeks appearing to maintain their response through the trial's conclusion, Akero said, and also finding additional new responders after 96 weeks, particularly in the 50-milligram group.

Akero shares were 0.9% lower in recent trading.

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