On 6th May 2026, Singapore's Brano Therapeutics, a biotechnology spin-off from Duke-NUS Medical School, has raised US$6.8 million in seed funding to advance the development of novel treatments for heart failure, including Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), a condition with limited treatment options.
The round was led by local venture capital firm, Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore (TIBS) and SEEDS (an arm of SG Growth Capital, the investment platform of the Singapore Economic Development Board and Enterprise Singapore), with participation from SGInnovate, and Duke-NUS’ early-stage innovation fund and incubation programme, LIVE VENTURES.
The investment reflects confidence in Brano’s strategy to leverage Duke-NUS’ scientific expertise, research platforms and data. This is LIVE Ventures’ first direct investment in a spin-off company and also marks TIBS’s fifth investment in a Singapore-based spin-off and second partnership with a Singapore academic institution. This partnership marks a strategic bridge between high-impact scientific discovery and the biotech market.
Heart failure is a growing global health challenge, affecting an estimated 64 million people worldwide . In Singapore, it accounts for about 17 per cent of cardiac admissions. HFpEF is increasing in prevalence due to ageing populations, as well as rising rates of diabetes and hypertension. Yet, treatment options remain limited.
The science behind Brano originated from research led by Duke-NUS scientists and collaborators, including the University of Cincinnati, to better understand the major biological drivers of HFpEF.
By analysing blood samples from patients, the team identified a distinct metabolic abnormality associated with poorer clinical outcomes. Further studies suggested that the failing heart becomes less efficient at processing key nutrients, leading to an accumulation of metabolic by-products in the blood and contributing to cardiac dysfunction.
As a proof-of-concept, treatment with a compound restores metabolic regulation, significantly reducing heart stiffness and improving heart function in a preclinical experimental model. This highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting metabolic dysfunction in HFpEF.
To translate this research into clinical impact, Brano Therapeutics, through its licensing agreement with Duke-NUS, draws on the School’s scientific expertise, research platforms and datasets to accelerate the development of these therapies.
Professor Wang Yibin, Director of the Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School and Scientific Founder of Brano Therapeutics, said:
“Our study shows that the failure of the specific nutrient processing pathway plays a key role in the development of Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction and is a distinct feature of the disease. Restoring this metabolic pathway could provide a promising new treatment. We are deeply grateful for the trust placed in us by our investors and look forward to advancing this discovery toward novel therapies for patients.”
Langdon Wu, Managing Director, Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore, said:
“As the lead investor, TIBS is proud to partner with Brano Therapeutics to help build a new generation biotech company focused on high-impact cardiovascular innovation. Brano is founded on the world-class research from Duke-NUS and combines strong scientific vision, thoughtful translational strategy, and disciplined execution. We believe Brano is well positioned to advance a differentiated pipeline while contributing meaningfully to the continued growth of Singapore’s life sciences and biotech innovation ecosystem.”
Associate Professor Christopher Laing, Vice-Dean for Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Duke-NUS, said:
“At Duke-NUS, we are committed to translating strong science into meaningful impact. Through programmes like LIVE Ventures, we support the journey from discovery to development, helping promising innovations move closer to patients.”
Christine Giam, Partner, SG Growth Capital, said:
“Leveraging on Singapore’s strong scientific community, Brano Therapeutics is building on translational research from Duke-NUS to bring life-saving therapeutics into the clinic to treat cardiovascular disease. SEEDS is excited to partner with Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore and Duke-NUS, to support Brano Therapeutics’ early development and the translation of scientific research into commercial pathways.”
Dr Jasmine Qiu, Assistant Director – Investments, SGInnovate, said:
“Brano's novel metabolic-focused therapeutic approach aligns with our investment in game-changing emerging technologies, going beyond traditional metabolic applications to address a major cardiovascular health concern. We look forward to supporting the company in its next phase as it brings its therapeutics to market, and to exploring potential synergies between Brano and our existing portfolio of cardiovascular-focused companies.”
Looking ahead, Brano Therapeutics is accelerating the development of novel, potent compounds to target metabolic dysfunction in patients with heart failure. The company aims to advance this therapeutic approach into clinical trials by 2029 and, ultimately, translate the scientific discovery into next-generation therapy that will redefine the standard care for heart failure.
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