image: Cross-section of the heart. (Left) In Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction, the muscles are stiffer, narrower and less effective at pumping blood. (Right) After treatment with the new compound, muscles are more elastic, less blocked and more efficient at pumping blood.
Credit: Liu Yunxia, Duke-NUS Medical School
- In a mark of confidence, biotech start-up Brano Therapeutics raises seed funding led by Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore and SEEDS, in addition to institutional backing by Duke-NUS’ LIVE Ventures.
- Investment will advance development of novel therapies targeting heart failure, including Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction, where treatment options remain limited.
SINGAPORE, 6 MAY 2026—Brano Therapeutics, a biotechnology spin-off from Duke-NUS Medical School, has raised US$6.8 million (approximately S$8.7 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 also marks TIBS’s 5th investment in a Singapore-based spin-off and its 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[1]. In Singapore, it accounts for about 17 per cent of cardiac admissions[2]. 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.
The US$6.8 million seed round includes a US$380,000 (S$500,000) commitment from Duke-NUS’ LIVE Ventures, an early stage innovation fund and incubation programme that helps bridge the gap between academic discovery and commercial development. This is LIVE Ventures’ first direct investment in a spin-off company, underscoring Duke-NUS’ confidence in Brano Therapeutics’ strategy and science.
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
For more information, please visit www.branotherapeutics.com.
For enquiries, please contact: Info@branotherapeutics.com
[1] Savarese G, Becher PM, Lund LH, Seferovic P, Rosano GM, Coats AJ. Global burden of heart failure: a comprehensive and updated review of epidemiology. Cardiovascular research. 2022 Dec 1;118(17):3272-87.
[2] Chan WX, Lin W and Wong RCC. Transitional care to reduce heart failure readmission rates in South East Asia. Cardiac Failure Review 2016; 2: 85–9.
About Duke-NUS Medical School
Duke-NUS is Singapore’s flagship graduate entry medical school, established in 2005 with a strategic, government-led partnership between two world-class institutions: Duke University and the National University of Singapore (NUS). Through an innovative curriculum, students at Duke-NUS are nurtured to become multi-faceted ‘Clinicians Plus’ poised to steer the healthcare and biomedical ecosystem in Singapore and beyond. A leader in ground-breaking research and translational innovation, Duke-NUS has gained international renown through its five Signature Research Programmes and ten Centres. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore’s largest healthcare group. This strategic alliance has led to the creation of 15 Academic Clinical Programmes, which harness multi-disciplinary research and education to transform medicine and improve lives.
For more information, please visit www.duke-nus.edu.sg
About Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore (TIBS)
TIBS is dedicated to investing in biomedical innovations. Embedded in the name, TRINITY represents a “Triad of scientists, entrepreneurs and investors, who shared vision is to nurture great biomedical companies”. As an investor, TIBS helps passionate scientists and entrepreneurs develop ground-breaking scientific research into successful corporate ventures. With profound industry knowledge and substantial resources, TIBS is committed to accelerating the growth of its portfolio companies via strategy optimization, recruitment of key positions, collaborative partnerships and much more. Since its first incubation in 2022, five Biotech companies have been built in Singapore dedicated to the R&D of innovative drugs, with one global licensing deal successfully in place with a global pharmaceutical company.
For more information, please visit https://www.trinity-fund.com.sg/
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