First generation weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have validated the huge medical and commercial demands for reducing obesity. Now - as in more mature disease-therapeutic spaces such as oncology - a more sophisticated understanding of obesity signalling pathways and patients will lead to a next generation of therapeutics that are better tailored to patient needs.

The needs of patients beyond these first generation drugs includes avoiding muscle wastage, reducing or eliminating nausea and vomiting, ensuring effects do not rapidly wear off, and providing additional therapeutic options for patients.

Dia Beta Labs Ltd has exciting new targets and peptides to play a leading role as the obesity therapeutics field develops.

As Executive Chair, I have worked closely with CEO Ryan Lafferty, raising investment and refining the science. .We have generated compelling data showing benefits in terms of muscle mass preservation, extended effect after withdrawal of treatment, and additivity with the existing GLP-1 peptides.

Raising investment from VCs and winning grants is enabling us to rapidly advance a lead molecule for a novel obesity target. 

As a team, we have won 4 major grants from Innovate UK, including the major Investor Partnership award. We have persuaded multiple VCs to invest in the huge potential of our peptides and therapeutic pathways - including being the first ever N Ireland investment for DSW Ventures, and the first ever company to receive investment from the venture investment arms of both Ulster University (IUL) and Queens University Befast (QUBIS).

In 2024 we were named the BioBreakthrough company of the year at INVENT, and then the Best Overall Innovation Company. The lead molecule is being progressed through in vivo efficacy, safety and formulation to prepare a path to testing in patients. The future looks very bright for Dia Beta Labs!