Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41637656›Full record

ArticleChemMedChem2026

Structure-Based Discovery of Obeticholic Acid Derivatives as Novel Farnesoid X Receptor Partial Agonists with Improved Selectivity and Reduced Off-Target Effects.

Daniela Passeri, Bruno Cerra, Andrea Carotti, Francesco Greco, Sara Piermarini, Carolina Colliva, Paride Liscio, Francesca De Franco, Luciano Adorini, Mary Ruth Erickson and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ChemMedChem, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Daniela PasseriTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Bruno CerraLaboratory of Medicinal and Advanced Synthetic Chemistry (Lab MASC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
Andrea CarottiLaboratory of Medicinal and Advanced Synthetic Chemistry (Lab MASC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
Francesco GrecoTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Sara PiermariniLaboratory of Medicinal and Advanced Synthetic Chemistry (Lab MASC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.
Carolina CollivaTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Paride LiscioTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Francesca De FrancoTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Luciano AdoriniIntercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 3636 Nobel Drive, San Diego, California, CA 92122, USA.
Mary Ruth EricksonIntercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 3636 Nobel Drive, San Diego, California, CA 92122, USA.
Roberto PellicciariTes Pharma, S.r.l., Via Giovine Italia 1, 06073, Solomeo (PG), Italy.
Antimo GioielloLaboratory of Medicinal and Advanced Synthetic Chemistry (Lab MASC), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, 06123, Perugia, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0240-2006

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a bile acid-activated nuclear receptor that represents an important therapeutic target for gut-liver diseases and metabolic disorders. Recently, FXR partial agonists have gained attention for their potential to minimize side effects resulting from receptor over-activation. In this study, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel obeticholic acid (OCA) derivatives as selective FXR modulators. Structural modifications at the C3α position and the side chain of the bile acid scaffold led to the identification of valine derivatives 2 and 16 as metabolically stable and safe FXR modulators with reduced agonist efficacy. Further molecular dynamics simulations revealed that these compounds induce distinct conformational changes within the FXR ligand-binding domain, consistent with their partial agonist behavior and resulting in moderate modulation of FXR target genes. Unlike OCA, both compounds failed to activate other steroid-responsive receptors, including MRGPRX4 (hX4), a G-protein-coupled receptor implicated in itching in cholestatic patients, supporting their potential as safer FXR modulators with a reduced risk of pruritus-related side effects. Overall, this study elucidates key structure-activity relationships governing FXR partial agonism and hX4 binding and offers valuable chemical tools for the development of FXR-targeted therapeutics with improved safety profiles.

Indexed as

Chenodeoxycholic AcidDrug DiscoveryReceptors, Cytoplasmic and NuclearAnimalsDose-Response Relationship, DrugHumansMolecular Dynamics SimulationMolecular StructureReceptor, Farnesoid X-ActivatedStructure-Activity RelationshipChenodeoxycholic Acidobeticholic acidReceptor, Farnesoid X-ActivatedReceptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclearbile acidFarnesoid X receptorhX4molecular dynamicspartial agonistsstructure–activity relationships

Identifiers

PMID41637656
PMCPMC12872208

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.