Informed design

Re-engineering of known, human peptide activators

Novel Targets

Effective exploitation of previously untapped receptors

Beta-cell health

Improving pancreatic beta-cell health to halt disease progression

About Us

Driving innovation in metabolic disease

Dia Beta Labs is a UK-based biotech company building on over 30 years of translational research from our founding research group at Ulster University, Northern Ireland. 

We are committed to transforming the lives of metabolic disease sufferers through the development of our novel therapeutic pipeline. 

We are developing agents which seek to address the progressive decline of pancreatic health in sufferers whilst imparting more sustainable, quality weight loss than currently available options.

The Problem

The uncurbed prevalence of diabetes and obesity is one of the greatest global healthcare challenges of our time. Over 2 billion adults are estimated to be overweight globally, the primary environmental driver for development of Type 2 Diabetes.

537 million adults are living with diabetes worldwide

This is predicted to reach 642 million by 2040

90% of global cases are Type 2 diabetic 

2 billion people globally are either overweight or obese



The global economic cost of diabetes was estimated to be approximately $966 billion in 2021

Over 80% of this was attributed to management of avoidable, life-altering diabetic complications

Diabetic complications

  • Vision loss 
  • Amputation 
  • Heart attack 
  • Stroke 
  • Kidney problems
  • Nerve damage
  • Gum disease


There exists a clear need for novel medicines which: 

  • Better manage disease progression



  • Prevent development of complications 


Our Solution

Our therapeutic candidates act at target receptors on the surface of insulin-producing beta-cells to:

Rest Beta-cells

Prevent further burnout of dwindling beta-cell mass

Improve function

Increase releasable insulin stores and overall sensitivity

Increase cell mass

Promote beta-cell proliferation, reduce apoptosis and improve beta-cell identity

Prevent Decline

Put a stopper in and actively reverse progressive beta-cell decline in severe disease

Our Therapeutic Candidates

Dia Beta Labs are currently progressing three therapeutic peptides through preclinical development for treatment of metabolic diseases in tandem

peptide analogues

Based on re-design of the human hormone receptor activators

Enzyme resistant

Improved stability against enzymatic degradation in plasma

Receptor selectivity

Improved selectivity towards target receptors of interest

Excellent Solubility

Enabling easier formulation compared to many peptides