Akero Therapeutics, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical firm dedicated to addressing cardio-metabolic disorders, with a specific focus on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Its primary objective is the creation of therapeutic agents aimed at re-establishing metabolic equilibrium and enhancing overall well-being. The company's flagship investigational drug is efruxifermin (EFX), a synthetic analog of fibroblast growth factor 21. EFX is designed to shield cells from stress and modulate the systemic metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins throughout the body. This promising compound is currently undergoing evaluation in a Phase 2a clinical investigation, known as the BALANCED study, for individuals diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed NASH. Originally established as Pippin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the organization rebranded as Akero Therapeutics, Inc. in May 2018. Founded in 2017, Akero Therapeutics maintains its corporate headquarters in South San Francisco, California.