RNA therapeutics biotech Ochre Bio has appointed its founder and former chief scientificoOfficer, Dr Quin Wills, as CEO. The company is advancing a pipeline of RNA-based treatments targeting late-stage chronic liver disease, with plans to move several candidates toward clinical development.

Wills, a medical doctor with degrees in genetics and mathematics from Oxford and Cambridge, has been instrumental in shaping Ochre’s scientific direction since its inception nearly six years ago. As CSO, he led the development of Ochre’s human liver perturbation atlases and supervised translational programs that have attracted major partnerships with both GSK and Boehringer Ingelheim.

The leadership change comes as Ochre Bio prepares to enter a new phase focused on clinical readiness. Its research centers on identifying disease-modifying targets for conditions such as fibrosis and cirrhosis, aiming to develop RNA therapies that could address the root causes of liver failure — a field that has long lacked effective treatment options.

“I’m delighted to announce Quin’s appointment as CEO of Ochre,” said Eliot Forster, chair of the board.

“This is excellent news for Ochre, its partners, and the wider liver disease field. Quin has played a critical role in building the company and is uniquely positioned to lead it into the clinic.”

Dr Wills brings two decades of experience in liver genomics and drug discovery. He founded his first company in the field 20 years ago and has since focused on identifying the genetic drivers of chronic liver disease.

At Ochre, he leads operations at the company’s perfused human liver lab in New York — believed to be the world’s largest — which serves as the foundation for its AI-powered discovery platform.

“We started Ochre with a simple mission: to rewrite the future for people living with chronic liver disease,” said Wills.

“It’s deeply rewarding to now guide these therapies toward the clinic after a twenty-year journey in liver research.”

Ochre Bio’s RNA-based approach is designed to modify gene expression in diseased tissue without the need for viral vectors or systemic delivery, offering the potential for targeted intervention in patients with advanced liver damage. The company continues to explore new applications for its platform in both rare and prevalent liver conditions.