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Updated: May 26, 2026

Methods for the Discovery of Novel Compounds Modulating a Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Type A Neurotransmission
Published on: August 16, 2018
AMG 837: a potent, orally bioavailable GPR40 agonist
Jonathan B Houze1, Liusheng Zhu, Ying Sun
1Amgen Inc. 1120 Veterans Blvd., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA. jhouze@amgen.com
Abstract:
The discovery that certain long chain fatty acids potentiate glucose stimulated insulin secretion through the previously orphan receptor GPR40 sparked interest in GPR40 agonists as potential antidiabetic agents. Optimization of a series of β-substituted phenylpropanoic acids led to the identification of (S)-3-(4-((4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-3-yl)methoxy)phenyl)hex-4-ynoic acid (AMG 837) as a potent GPR40 agonist with a superior pharmacokinetic profile and robust glucose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion in rodents.
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