Akero Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq: AKRO), a United States-based cardio-metabolic biotechnology company, has screened the first patients for its Phase 2b HARMONY study assessing efruxifermin, the company's lead product candidate intended for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, it was reported on Wednesday.

The study is a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in biopsy-confirmed NASH patients with fibrosis stage two or three. During the study, subjects will be randomised to receive once-weekly subcutaneous dosing of 28mg or 50mg EFX or placebo.

The company is likely to dose patients starting early in the second quarter of 2021. It is expected to report top-line results in the second half of 2022.