TLDR: 65LAB has granted US$1.5 million to Duke-NUS Medical School for a groundbreaking antifibrotic drug discovery platform led by Professor Enrico Petretto. This initiative, which integrates computational biology with AI and emerging quantum computing, aims to develop first-in-class therapies for debilitating lung and kidney diseases, fostering new biotech ventures in Singapore.
Singapore, August 13, 2025 – 65LAB has announced a significant award of US$1.5 million (approximately S$1.9 million) to Duke-NUS Medical School, bolstering a pioneering drug discovery platform focused on antifibrotic therapies. The funding is directed towards Professor Enrico Petretto’s research, which seeks to develop novel treatments for lung and kidney diseases, conditions for which effective cures are currently unavailable.
The core of this ambitious project is the ‘Systems Genetics’ platform, a sophisticated approach that merges computational biology with advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms. Furthermore, the platform is being enhanced with emerging quantum computing methodologies, positioning it at the forefront of therapeutic innovation. The primary goal is to deliver ‘first-in-class’ antifibrotic therapies, addressing the formation of damaged and scarred extra tissues that can lead to organ failure, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis affecting an estimated 1 in 10,000 people in Asia-Pacific.
Professor Petretto’s research aims not only to develop new drugs but also to uncover new therapeutic targets for these challenging diseases. This award is expected to significantly accelerate the drug development pathway and stimulate the creation of new therapeutic companies within Singapore’s burgeoning biotech landscape.
65LAB, a unique collaborative venture, comprises global investors including ClavystBio, Leaps by Bayer, Lightstone Ventures, Polaris Partners, and the Polaris Innovation Fund, alongside the global life science company Evotec. This partnership is dedicated to driving scientific advancement and establishing new biotech enterprises originating from Singapore.
Stephen Courtney, 65LAB Expert-in-Residence, will provide crucial venture-building guidance to Professor Petretto, assisting in the development of a robust commercialisation strategy and facilitating the project’s progression towards company formation. This substantial award is further complemented by a US$390,000 (approximately S$500,000) investment from Duke-NUS’ own early-stage innovation fund and incubation programme, LIVE Ventures. This internal support is vital for bridging the gap between academic discovery and successful commercial development.
Commenting on the investment, a representative stated, “The investment is testimony to the commercialisation potential of Enrico’s Systems Genetics pipeline. This project could bring a new therapy to market to treat patients with chronic diseases marked by fibrosis. It is also an affirmation of a robust platform for AI-driven target discovery, which promises more investible opportunities in the future.” This marks a continued commitment from 65LAB, following its first award in July 2024 to Associate Professor Lena Ho, also from Duke-NUS, for her work on microproteins to treat chronic inflammation.
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Duke-NUS’ Centre for Technology and Development is actively supporting Professor Petretto’s commercialisation aspirations by protecting novel drug targets and new molecular entities through strategic patent filings. The award from 65LAB underscores the critical importance of strong partnerships between academic institutions and industry leaders in accelerating the translation of promising innovations into tangible patient benefits.
