Brano Therapeutics targets metabolic roots of stubborn heart failure

Brano Therapeutics is advancing a new treatment for a common but challenging form of heart failure. The company’s research reveals a disrupted nutrient pathway that worsens symptoms in HFpEF patients. This discovery could lead to therapies that restore heart function by targeting metabolic dysfunction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF, affects millions worldwide. It occurs when the heart muscle stiffens, preventing proper filling and relaxation between beats. Despite a normal pumping function, patients suffer from severe symptoms and frequent hospitalisations. HFpEF has become a growing health concern, particularly as populations age and conditions like diabetes and hypertension rise. Globally, 64 million people live with heart failure, with 17% of cardiac hospital admissions in Singapore linked to the disease. Traditional treatments often fail to address the underlying metabolic issues driving the condition.

Brano Therapeutics was founded to tackle these metabolic abnormalities. Its research, rooted in studies from Duke-NUS Medical School and international collaborators, identified a key pathway disruption in HFpEF patients. This malfunction contributes to cardiac dysfunction and worsens symptoms over time.

The company’s lead compounds aim to restore energy balance in the heart and reduce harmful metabolite buildup. Preclinical tests show improved heart function, suggesting potential for clinical success. Brano plans to begin human trials by 2029 after completing safety and efficacy evaluations.

Investors have taken notice. Trinity Innovation Bioventure Singapore and SEEDS recently provided funding, backing the company’s scientific approach and translational goals. Brano’s model brings together cardiologists, metabolic biologists, pharmacologists, and venture capitalists to accelerate drug development. Brano Therapeutics is moving closer to clinical trials with a treatment that targets the metabolic roots of HFpEF. If successful, its compounds could offer a new way to manage a condition that currently lacks effective therapies. The company’s progress reflects a broader shift toward interdisciplinary collaboration in biotechnology.