<?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>0001961273</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
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    <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>PATRICK D LAMY</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>483500.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>79717570</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>05/22/2025</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>05/22/2025</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>05/22/2025</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for PATRICK D LAMY</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>05/07/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>8000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>339946.80</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for PATRICK D LAMY</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>03/03/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>1000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>48090.00</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.
</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>05/22/2025</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>01/06/2025</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Patrick D Lamy</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
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144
0001961273
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0001744659
AKERO THERAPEUTICS INC
001-38944
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
6504876488
PATRICK D LAMY
Officer
Common
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services
1 New York Plaza
8th Floor
New York
NY
10004
10000
483500.00
79717570
05/22/2025
NASDAQ
Common
05/22/2025
Exercise of Stock Options
Issuer
N
10000
05/22/2025
Cash
N
10b5-1 Sales for PATRICK D LAMY
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
05/07/2025
8000
339946.80
10b5-1 Sales for PATRICK D LAMY
601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
South San Francisco
CA
94080
Common
03/03/2025
1000
48090.00
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.
05/22/2025
01/06/2025
/s/ Patrick D Lamy