<?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>29074</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>896351.42</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>69430754</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>11/01/2024</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>11/01/2024</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>29074</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>11/01/2024</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>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>
        <remarks>The securities to be sold were and will be received upon the exercise of stock options over the next three months. The dates of acquisition and payment were and will be the dates of exercise/sale.&#13;
</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>11/01/2024</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": 12300}]
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
29074
896351.42
69430754
11/01/2024
NASDAQ
Common
11/01/2024
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
29074
11/01/2024
Cash
N
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
The securities to be sold were and will be received upon the exercise of stock options over the next three months. The dates of acquisition and payment were and will be the dates of exercise/sale.
11/01/2024
05/24/2024
/s/ Catriona Yale