A novel peroxisome proliferator-activated gamma (PPARγ) agonist, CLX-0921, has potent antihyperglycemic activity with low adipogenic potential

Agonists of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) are pharmacologically active antihyperglycemic agents that act by increasing peripheral tissue sensitivity to insulin. Many of these agonists have antihyperglycemic activity that is directly proportional to their ability to bind and activate PPARγ; however, recent data bring this relationship into question. In this report we describe a new PPARγ agonist, CLX-0921, that is derived from a natural product. This thiazolidinedione (TZD) has a spectrum of activity that differs from commercially available TZDs. It is a weak activator of PPARγ (EC50 of 0.284 μmol/L) compared to rosiglitazone (EC50 0.009 μmol/L). Despite this difference, the drug maintains potent glucose uptake activity in vitro and glucose-lowering activity in vivo that is equipotent to that of rosiglitazone. Moreover, CLX-0921 showed a 10-fold reduction in in vitro adipogenic potential compared to rosiglitazone. CLX-0921 also increases glycogen synthesis, an activity not typically associated with rosiglitazone or pioglitazone. Thus CLX-0921 appears to have a distinct spectrum of activity relative to other TZDs.