Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders

1. A biologically active agent, wherein the agent is a compound of the formula:

wherein

n is 1 or 2;

m is 0 or 1;

q is 0 or 1;

t is 0 or 1;

R 5 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

R 9 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms;

A is 2,6-dimethylphenyl; or

cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; and

X is —CH 2 —, Q is —OR 1 and R 1 is methyl or ethyl; or X is —CH 2 CR 12 R 13 — or —CH 2 CH(NHAc)- wherein each of R 12 and R 13 is independently hydrogen or methyl, Q is OR 1 and R 1 is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 7 carbon atoms; or X is —CH 2 CH 2 — and Q is NR 10 R 11 wherein one of R 10 and R 11 is hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms or hydroxy, and the other is hydrogen;

or when R 1 is hydrogen, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound.

2. The biologically active agent of claim 1 , wherein n is 1; q is 0; t is 0; R 9 is hydrogen; and

A is 2,6-dimethylphenyl.

3. The biologically active agent of claim 2 , 4-(4-[(2,6-Dimethylbenzyl)-thio]-phenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid.