GSK and Ochre Bio Partner to Study Liver Disease

GSK has entered into a strategic multi-year data licence agreement with Ochre Bio, aiming to delve deeper into the mechanisms of liver disease and expedite the creation of new therapeutics. This collaboration is valued at up to $37.5 million.

Through this partnership, GSK will gain access to Ochre Bio's advanced computational biology, cellular, and perfused human organ platforms. These platforms will help generate unique human liver data sets. Additionally, GSK will have non-exclusive access to Ochre Bio's extensive library of historical liver data.

The exact liver disease indications targeted by this partnership have not been detailed. However, both companies plan to leverage the data to construct artificial intelligence (AI) models. These models are expected to enhance the precision of experiments, thereby aiding in the selection of therapeutic targets.

Kim Branson, who serves as the senior vice president and global head of AI and machine learning at GSK, emphasized the significance of Ochre Bio's platform. According to Branson, the foundational data sets from Ochre Bio will enable GSK to create AI models that offer a deeper understanding of liver function and disease. This, in turn, will support the development of innovative medicines.

Jack O’Meara, co-founder and CEO of Ochre Bio, highlighted the importance of data innovation alongside algorithmic innovation in the realm of machine learning. He noted that the large-scale, causal human data sets generated through this partnership would be foundational for the liver research and development pipelines of both companies.

Liver diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), primary biliary cholangitis, and hepatitis B, pose significant health challenges. These conditions are responsible for over 10,000 deaths annually in the UK alone. GSK is already making strides in this area; its investigational antisense oligonucleotide, bepirovirsen, received fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration in February. This designation is for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B, a disease that affects nearly 300 million people globally.

Branson reiterated GSK's commitment to addressing unmet needs in liver disease through the generation of unique data from human-derived systems. This approach is part of GSK's broader strategy to advance their programs spanning from MASH to hepatitis B.

This new partnership with Ochre Bio follows closely on the heels of GSK's recent acquisition of US-based Elsie Biotechnologies. The $50 million deal brings Elsie's oligonucleotide discovery platform into GSK's fold. GSK plans to integrate data from Elsie's platform with its AI and machine learning capabilities. This integration aims to support the development of predictive models for designing oligonucleotides, which can modulate gene expression.

In summary, GSK's partnership with Ochre Bio represents a significant step towards enhancing the understanding and treatment of liver diseases through the use of advanced data and AI technologies. This collaboration, along with GSK's recent acquisition of Elsie Biotechnologies, underscores the company's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge science in the pursuit of innovative medical solutions.