SerBut

SerBut is a prodrug of butyrate, a gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), engineered by conjugating butyrate to the amino acid serine. Developed by researchers at the University of Chicago, SerBut is designed to overcome the therapeutic limitations of sodium butyrate, such as its foul odor, poor absorption, and rapid metabolism. By utilizing amino acid transporters in the gut, SerBut achieves higher bioavailability and can be administered orally at higher doses without inducing cytotoxicity. In preclinical models of atherosclerosis, SerBut has demonstrated the ability to reduce LDL-cholesterol, aortic plaque accumulation, and systemic inflammation by suppressing NF-κB signaling. It also exhibits a systemic tolerogenic effect and reduces markers of liver damage.

Other names

Seryl-butyrateserine-butyrate conjugate