<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001779308</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001744659</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>AKERO THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>001-38944</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>6504876488</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>CATRIONA YALE</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>10000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>327400.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>69430754</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/06/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/06/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/06/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>11/01/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>15485</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>505106.76</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>10/30/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>4515</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>146855.79</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>10/15/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>14825</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>452229.21</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>10/14/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6136</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>184256.50</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/19/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5500</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>152084.35</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/18/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>3871</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>106685.92</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/17/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2037</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>56115.68</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/16/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2485</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>68375.52</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/10/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>637</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>16676.66</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/10/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>637</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>16676.66</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/03/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>949</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>26205.69</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/26/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>5200</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>143071.24</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>South San Francisco</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/23/2024</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>8851</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>243645.02</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/06/2024</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>05/24/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Catriona Yale</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
[{"type": "144", "sequence": "1", "filename": "primary_doc.xml", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12803}]
144
0001779308
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001744659
AKERO THERAPEUTICS INC
001-38944
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
6504876488
CATRIONA YALE
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
10000
327400.00
69430754
11/06/2024
NASDAQ
Common
11/06/2024
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
10000
11/06/2024
Cash
N
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
11/01/2024
15485
505106.76
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
10/30/2024
4515
146855.79
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
10/15/2024
14825
452229.21
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
10/14/2024
6136
184256.50
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/19/2024
5500
152084.35
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/18/2024
3871
106685.92
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/17/2024
2037
56115.68
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/16/2024
2485
68375.52
CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/10/2024
637
16676.66
CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/10/2024
637
16676.66
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
09/03/2024
949
26205.69
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
08/26/2024
5200
143071.24
10b5-1 Sales for CATRIONA YALE
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
08/23/2024
8851
243645.02
11/06/2024
05/24/2024
/s/ Catriona Yale