Akero Therapeutics soars on $5.2 billion acquisition deal with Novo Nordisk

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Akero Therapeutics (NASDAQ:AKRO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AKRO]) has entered [https://seekingalpha.com/pr/20260097-akero-therapeutics-to-be-acquired-by-novo-nordisk-for-up-to-5_2-billion]into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Novo Nordisk (NVO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVO]) for up to $5.2 billion in cash, it said on Thursday, boosting shares ahead of the market open.

Under the terms of the agreement, Akero (NASDAQ:AKRO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AKRO]) shareholders will receive $54.00 per share in cash at closing and a non-transferable contingent value right. The stock was up over 19% at $55.61.

Shares of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk (NVO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVO]), maker of the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, in contrast, slipped 2.5% to $58.27.

Each CVR will entitle its holder to receive a cash payment of $6.00 per share upon full U.S. regulatory approval of efruxifermin for treatment of compensated cirrhosis due to MASH by June 30, 2031, the companies said.

The upfront cash portion of the consideration represents an equity value of approximately $4.7 billion, a 42% premium to Akero’s closing price on May 19, 2025, before market speculation.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by Akero’s Board of Directors and is expected to close around year-end.

Novo Nordisk (NVO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/NVO]) is down ~30% year-to-date.

MORE ON NOVO NORDISK, AKERO THERAPEUTICS

* Novo Nordisk: The Lack Of Pricing Power Is A Problem [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4828717-novo-nordisk-the-lack-of-pricing-power-is-a-problem]
* Novo Nordisk: A Profitable Investment In The Long Term [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4828274-novo-nordisk-a-profitable-investment-in-the-long-term]
* Novo Nordisk: Oral Wegovy Nears FDA Decision As GLP-1 Momentum Builds [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4828223-novo-nordisk-oral-wegovy-nears-fda-decision-as-glp-1-momentum-builds]
* Novo Nordisk’s appeal to halt Medicare price negotiations rejected [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4502401-novo-nordisk-loses-bid-halt-medicare-price-negotiations]
* Novo Nordisk cuts hit production line jobs at key US plant - report [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4502190-novo-nordisk-cuts-hit-production-line-jobs-at-key-us-plant---report]