Compositions and methods for treating metabolic disorders

1. A compound having the structural formula of:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is

3. A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof selected from:

4. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

5. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for oral administration.

6. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is formulated for injection.

7. A kit comprising a pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 and instructions for using the composition to treat a subject suffering from a disease or condition, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic steatosis, and any combination thereof.

8. A method of treating a disease or condition in a subject in need thereof, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic steatosis, and any combination thereof, the method comprising: administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of claim 1 .

9. A method of reducing, treating, or sustaining a reduction of a metabolic disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, whether or not a diagnosis of this disease has been made, wherein the metabolic disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic steatosis, and any combination thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the compound of claim 1 to effect a reduction, treatment, or sustainment in reduction of the metabolic disease or disorder.

10. A method of reducing adiposity in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the compound of claim 1 to effect a reduction of adiposity in the subject.

11. A method of increasing insulin sensitivity in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the compound of claim 1 to effect increasing insulin sensitivity in the subject.

12. A method of increasing glucose utilization in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the compound of claim 1 to effect increasing glucose utilization in the subject.

13. A method of increasing fat oxidation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the compound of claim 1 to effect increasing fat oxidation in the subject.

14. A method of treating diabetes and/or hyperlipidemia comprising administering to the subject the compound of claim 1 over a time period, during which the subject exhibits one or more of (1) an increase in insulin sensitivity, glucose utilization, or fat oxidation or (2) a reduction in lipid accumulation.

15. A method of reducing atherosclerotic plaque size in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the compound of claim 1 to effect a reduction in total atherosclerotic plaque size in the subject.

16. A method of reducing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the compound of claim 1 to effect a reduction in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the subject.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is evidenced by reduction in hepatic fat, inflammation and/or fibrosis detectable by one or more methods selected from the group consisting of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, measurement of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, biopsy, transient elastography, magnetic resonance elastography, and related techniques.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the subject exhibits a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the NAFLD is selected from the group consisting of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), NASH-related cirrhosis, and hepatic steatosis.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the subject exhibits one or more symptoms of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) selected from the group consisting of weakness, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, ache and jaundice.

21. A method of reducing, treating, or sustaining a reduction of a metabolic disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof, whether or not a diagnosis of this disease has been made, wherein the disease or condition is selected from the group consisting of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatic steatosis, and any combination thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect a reduction, treatment, or sustainment in reduction of the metabolic disease or disorder.

22. A method of reducing adiposity in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect a reduction of adiposity in the subject.

23. A method of increasing insulin sensitivity in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect increasing insulin sensitivity in the subject.

24. A method of increasing glucose utilization in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect increasing glucose utilization in the subject.

25. A method of increasing fat oxidation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect increasing fat oxidation in the subject.

26. A method of treating diabetes and/or hyperlipidemia comprising administering to the subject the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 over a time period, during which the subject exhibits one or more of (1) an increase in insulin sensitivity, glucose utilization, or fat oxidation or (2) a reduction in lipid accumulation.

27. A method of reducing atherosclerotic plaque size in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect a reduction in total atherosclerotic plaque size in the subject.

28. A method of reducing non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to said subject a dose of the pharmaceutical composition of claim 4 to effect a reduction in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the subject.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is evidenced by reduction in hepatic fat, inflammation and/or fibrosis detectable by one or more methods selected from the group consisting of ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, measurement of serum alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, biopsy, transient elastography, magnetic resonance elastography, and related techniques.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein the subject exhibits a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the NAFLD is selected from the group consisting of non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), NASH-related cirrhosis, and hepatic steatosis.

32. The method of claim 28 , wherein the subject exhibits one or more symptoms of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) selected from the group consisting of weakness, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, ache and jaundice.