Akero Therapeutics Announces Pricing of Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

Rhea-AI Summary

Akero Therapeutics (Nasdaq: AKRO) has announced an upsized public offering of 7,692,308 shares at a price of $26.00 per share, aiming to raise approximately $200 million. The underwriters have a 30-day option to purchase an additional 1,153,846 shares. The offering is set to close on or around September 19, 2022, subject to customary conditions. J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Jefferies serve as joint book-running managers. Proceeds are intended to advance Akero's clinical development pipeline, particularly for its lead product candidate, efruxifermin, targeting serious metabolic diseases.

Positive

• Proceeds of approximately $200 million will fund clinical development for efruxifermin.
• Efruxifermin is a potential best-in-class treatment for NASH, addressing a significant unmet medical need.

Negative

• The offering could lead to dilution for existing shareholders.
• Market uncertainty may affect the timing and success of the offering.

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Akero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: AKRO), a clinical-stage company developing transformational treatments for patients with serious metabolic disease marked by high unmet medical need, announced today the pricing of an upsized underwritten public offering of 7,692,308 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $26.00 per share. All of the shares in the offering are being offered by Akero Therapeutics. In addition, Akero Therapeutics has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,153,846 shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The gross proceeds from the offering, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $200.0 million, excluding any exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. The offering is expected to close on or about September 19, 2022, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Jefferies are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. Canaccord Genuity is acting as lead manager and H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as co-manager for the offering.

The shares of common stock are being offered by Akero Therapeutics pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering was filed with the SEC on September 13, 2022. The final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering will be filed with the SEC and may be obtained, when available, from Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014, or by email at prospectus@morganstanley.com; and Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10022, by telephone at (877) 821-7388, or by email at prospectus_department@jefferies.com; or by accessing the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Akero Therapeutics

Akero Therapeutics is a clinical-stage company developing transformational treatments for patients with serious metabolic diseases marked by high unmet medical need, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a disease without any approved therapies. Akero’s lead product candidate, efruxifermin (EFX), is a differentiated Fc-FGF21 fusion protein that has been engineered to mimic the balanced biological activity profile of native FGF21, an endogenous hormone that alleviates cellular stress and regulates metabolism throughout the body. EFX is designed to offer convenient once-weekly subcutaneous dosing. The consistency and magnitude of observed effects position EFX to be a potentially best-in-class medicine, if approved, for treatment of NASH. EFX is currently being evaluated in two Phase 2b clinical trials: the HARMONY study in patients with pre-cirrhotic NASH (F2-F3 fibrosis), and the SYMMETRY study in patients with cirrhotic NASH (F4 fibrosis, compensated). EFX is also being evaluated in an expansion cohort of the SYMMETRY study, comparing the safety and tolerability of EFX to placebo when added to an existing GLP-1 receptor agonist in patients with pre-cirrhotic NASH (F1-F3 fibrosis) and Type 2 diabetes.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding the closing of Akero’s anticipated public offering. The words “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, uncertainties related to market conditions and statements regarding the timing, size and expected gross proceeds of the offering, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offering and sale of securities, and Akero Therapeutics’ ability to complete the offering. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Akero’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Akero’s other filings with the SEC, including those contained or incorporated by reference in the preliminary prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus related to the offering to be filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent Akero’s views only as of the date hereof and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Akero explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Investor Contact:
Christina Tartaglia
212.362.1200
IR@akerotx.com

Media Contact:
Sarah O’Connell
732.456.0092
soconnell@vergescientific.com

FAQ

What is the size of the public offering by Akero Therapeutics?

Akero Therapeutics is offering 7,692,308 shares at a price of $26.00 per share, aiming to raise approximately $200 million.

When is the closing date for Akero's public offering?

The offering is expected to close on or about September 19, 2022.

What will the funds from the offering be used for?

The funds will be used to advance the clinical development of Akero's lead product candidate, efruxifermin.

Who are the underwriters for Akero's stock offering?

J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Jefferies are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering.

What are the risks associated with Akero's public offering?

The offering could dilute existing shareholders and may be affected by market conditions.