Design, synthesis, and evaluation of a series of novel phenylpropanoic acid derivatives agonists for the FFA1

Article abstract of DOI:10.1111/cbdd.13480

Free fatty acid 1 (FFA1/GPR40) has attracted extensive attention as a novel target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes for its role in the enhancement of insulin secretion with glucose dependency. Aiming to develop novel potent FFA1 agonists, a new series of phenylpropionic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized on the basis of the modification of chemical cement of TAK-875, AMG-837, and LY2881835. Among them, most promising compounds 7, 14, and 15 were obtained with EC₅₀ values of 82, 79, and 88?nM, exhibiting a powerful agonistic activity compared to TAK-875 (95.1?nM). During Oral glucose tolerance test in normal mice, compound 7, 14, and 15 had significant glucose-lowering effect at the dose of 50?mg/kg. Furthermore, compound 15 (50?mg/kg) also significantly improved in glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic mice. Herein, we reported the discovery and optimization of a series of potent FFA1 agonists. The discovery supported further exploration surrounding this scaffold.