Ochre Bio has completed the research phase of its collaboration with GSK, delivering two large-scale datasets designed to accelerate the discovery of new treatments for chronic liver disease. The partners will now move into a multi-year co-exclusive licence agreement, giving both organisations continued access to Ochre’s human liver data and analytics.

The collaboration produced a functional genomics dataset created by systematically knocking down all known hepatocyte genes across multiple human donors and profiling the downstream impact through RNA sequencing. Alongside this, Ochre generated a single-cell dataset from perfused donor livers, giving a detailed picture of gene expression across liver cell types and individuals. Together, the resources capture both gene perturbation responses and cell-level heterogeneity in human liver biology.

Ochre has integrated the data into its OBELiX software platform, combining perturbation readouts with proprietary disease atlases. The aim is to map causal links between gene function, disease signatures and clinical phenotypes, offering a clearer view of how liver cell populations contribute to disease progression. The partners said the datasets will also support the training of AI models that require large-scale, high-resolution human data.

Quin Wills, founder and chief executive officer of Ochre Bio, said: “To develop therapies that truly impact the lives of liver patients, we cannot compromise on building large-scale human datasets.” He noted that moving beyond population genetics into perturbation-based approaches is essential for unpicking the complexities of human disease and that the joint datasets with GSK feed directly into the company’s AI algorithms.

GSK said the work deepens its understanding of liver biology and supports efforts to identify new therapeutic opportunities. Kaivan Khavandi, head of respiratory, immunology and inflammation, said: “Our collaboration with Ochre has generated data that supports our deepened understanding of human biology and disease.” He added that the datasets are already informing AI-led research into liver medicines.

Ochre said the combination of functional genomics, single-cell analysis and clinical data provides a foundation for identifying targets that may not emerge from traditional genetic studies. The company expects the co-exclusive phase of the collaboration to strengthen its translational efforts and support future RNA therapeutic programmes aimed at slowing or reversing liver disease.