HWL-088 is a highly potent and orally active free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1/GPR40) agonist (EC50 of 18.9 nM) with moderate PPARδ activity (EC50 of 570.9 nM) . HWL-088 improves glucose and lipid metabolism, and has anti-diabetic effects[1][2].
HWL-088 (0.3 μM and 3μM) significantly increases insulin secretion fromMIN6 cells at 25 mM but not at 2 mM glucose. HWL-088 reveales a dose-dependent insulinotropic effect in the presence of 25-mM glucose[2].
HWL-088 (40 mg/kg; oral gavage; daily; for 30 days; ob/ob mice) treatment improves β-cell function by up-regulation of pancreas duodenum homeobox-1, reduces fat accumulation in adipose tissue and alleviated fatty liver in ob/ob mice. The effect of HWL-088 involves a reduction in hepatic lipogenesis and oxidative stress, increased lipoprotein lipolysis, glucose uptake, mitochondrial function and fatty acid β-oxidation[2].
[1]. Li Z, et al. Discovery of HWL-088: A highly potent FFA1/GPR40 agonist bearing a phenoxyacetic acid scaffold. Bioorg Chem. 2019 Nov;92:103209.
[2]. Yueming Chen, et al. HWL-088, a new potent free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) agonist, improves glucolipid metabolism and acts additively with metformin in ob/ob diabetic mice. Br J Pharmacol. 2020 May;177(10):2286-2302.