Why Boehringer and GSK are betting on Ochre

This week on The Pharma Letter Podcast, we’re joined by Quin Wills, co-founder and chief scientific officer of UK biotech Ochre Bio.

A physician-scientist with a background in genomics and computational biology, Quin has spent much of his career focused on the biology of liver disease — a path that has shaped Ochre’s approach to RNA-based therapies and human-based validation models.

Founded in 2019, the Oxford-based biotech is developing a pipeline of RNA medicines for chronic liver conditions, using live human donor livers to test therapies in real time. 

With a focus on regenerative biology and fibrosis, the company’s platform has drawn interest from heavyweights in the industry.

In 2024, Ochre landed a regenerative medicine partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim targeting advanced MASH cirrhosis, and signed a multi-year data licensing deal with GSK to deepen AI models of liver disease.

Backed by Khosla Ventures, the firm raised a $30 million Series A in late 22 and is now progressing its first programs toward IND-enabling studies.

In this week’s episode, we ask Quin about the scientific vision behind Ochre Bio, the state of innovation in liver disease, and where AI is beginning to shift the needle in drug development.