TUG-891

TUG-891 is a potent and selective small molecule agonist of the free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFAR4), also known as GPR120. Developed at the University of Southern Denmark, it serves as a critical pharmacological tool for investigating the role of FFAR4 in metabolic and inflammatory processes. In preclinical studies, TUG-891 has demonstrated the ability to stimulate GLP-1 secretion, enhance glucose uptake in adipocytes, and promote anti-inflammatory effects by shifting macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype. While it shows high potency for human FFAR4, its utility in rodent models is sometimes complicated by cross-reactivity with mouse FFAR1 and relatively poor in vivo stability. It is primarily investigated for its potential therapeutic applications in obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).