Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) inhibitors. An update from 2017 to early 2022

The fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) is a protein predominantly expressed in macrophages and adipose tissue, where it regulates fatty acids storage and lipolysis and is an essential mediator of inflammation. Small molecule inhibitors of FABP4 have attracted interest following the recent publications of beneficial pharmacological effects of these compounds for the treatment of metabolic syndrome and, more recently, for other pathologies. Since the synthesis of the BMS309403, one of the first selective and effective FABP4 inhibitors, hundreds of other inhibitors have been synthesized (i.e., derivatives of niacin, quinoxaline, aryl-quinoline, bicyclic pyridine, urea, aromatic compounds and other novel heterocyclic compounds). This review updates the recently reported (2017 to early 2022) molecules as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein 4 inhibitors.