Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in developed nations. Toeffectively target dyslipidemia to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, it may be beneficial to activatethe peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) PPAR
and PPAR
simultaneously through a singlemolecule. Replacement of the methylthiazole of
5 (the PPAR
selective agonist) with [1,2,4]thiadiazolegave compound
13, which unexpectedly displayed submicromolar potency as a partial agonist at PPAR
inaddition to the high potency at PPAR
. Optimization of
13 led to the identification of
24 as a potent andselective PPAR
/
dual agonist. Compound
24 and its close analogs represent a new series of PPAR
/
dual agonists. The high potency, significant gene induction, excellent PK profiles, and good in vivo efficaciesin three animal models may render compound
24 as a valuable pharmacological tool in elucidating thecomplex roles of PPAR
/
dual agonists and as a potential treatment of the metabolic syndrome.