<?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>6136</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>181809.68</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>69430754</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>10/14/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>10/14/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>5000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>10/14/2024</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>12/31/2019</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>513</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>12/31/2019</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>06/30/2020</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Employee Stock Purchase Plan</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>623</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>06/30/2020</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>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>
        <remarks>Sales that were executed on October 14, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on October 15, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on October 14, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>10/14/2024</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": 11289}]
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
6136
181809.68
69430754
10/14/2024
NASDAQ
Common
10/14/2024
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
5000
10/14/2024
Cash
Common
12/31/2019
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Issuer
N
513
12/31/2019
Cash
Common
06/30/2020
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Issuer
N
623
06/30/2020
Cash
N
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
Sales that were executed on October 14, 2024 are being reported on this Form 144 filed on October 15, 2024 given the EDGAR system was not accepting filings on October 14, 2024 in observance of the federal holiday
10/14/2024
05/24/2024
/s/ Catriona Yale