By Maggie Fick and Mariam Sunny (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it would buy U.S.-based Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion to gain access to a promising liver disease drug candidate, in the first major deal by the Danish drugmaker's new CEO to spur growth. Mike Doustdar, who took the helm at the Wegovy maker in July, has signaled a focus on new, highly effective obesity and diabetes drugs that can also treat related cardiometabolic conditions such as MASH, rather than expanding into other ...

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it had agreed to buy Akero Therapeutics for up to $5.2 billion, giving the Danish drugmaker access to the U.S.-based company's experimental liver disease drug. The maker of blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy is pressing ahead with a sweeping restructuring in a bid to revive sales growth and fend off intense competition from U.S. rival Eli Lilly. Under the deal, Novo would pay Akero shareholders $54 per share upfront in cash, which represents a premium of ab ...