Ochre Bio, an innovator in chronic liver disease medicine development, has appointed Eliot Forster, Ph.D. as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. With decades of experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, cofounding and leading several firms Dr. Forster has successfully raised more than $550m in equity financing, having previously served as CEO at F-Star Therapeutics, CEO at Immunocore Ltd and Chairperson of Avacta PLC.
What does Dr. Eliot bring to Ochre Bio in the role?
Dr. Eliot Forster has over 30 years expertise in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Previously CEO at F-star Therapeutics, Immunocore, Creabilis Therapeutics and Solace Pharmaceuticals Inc, he is also the non-executive Chairperson of Avacta plc and on the Board of Immatics NV.
He is an honorary visiting Prof. of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine at the University of Liverpool and honorary international visiting Prof. at the University of Pavia. He is a Board member of OSCHR (Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research), and the National Genomics Board. Eliot holds a B.Sc. in physiology from the University of Liverpool, an MBA from Henley Business School and a Ph.D. in neurophysiology from the University of Liverpool.
Commenting on his appointment, Eliot Forster said, “I am honoured to join Ochre Bio as Chairperson. The firm is founded on a fully differentiated scientific strategy to uncover and validate fundamental disease pathways in the liver. Using ex vivo human-liver models, Ochre has a unique approach to bring hope to patients where therapeutic options are lacking.”
“I look forward to working with the management team to build a great company and a pipeline of innovative medicines for those suffering from liver and liver-mediated diseases.”
What does the appointment mean for Ochre Bio?
“Eliot’s expertise is highly relevant for Ochre’s next phase and we couldn’t be more pleased to appoint him as Chairman of our Board of Directors. Eliot joins us at a pivotal point in Ochre’s journey, as we begin the transition from a discovery-stage to a clinical-stage company, and we look forward to leveraging his extensive leadership experience towards the development of impactful medicines for liver disease patients,” said Jack O’Meara, CEO of Ochre Bio.
“Progressing an advanced therapy from idea to clinic is one of the most challenging things to achieve. Eliot is one of those rare individuals who has done this multiple times. We are humbled to have him as part of the Ochre team,” said Quin Wills, CSO of Ochre Bio.
The announcement follows the recent appointment of Chinwe Ukomadu, MD, PhD as an Observer on its Board of Directors, and David Coughlan, PhD as Vice President of Translational Development, as Ochre Bio continues to strengthen its leadership.
