6α-Ethyl-Chenodeoxycholic Acid (6-ECDCA), a Potent and Selective FXR Agonist Endowed with Anticholestatic Activity

A series of 6alpha-alkyl-substituted analogues of chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were synthesized and evaluated as potential farnesoid X receptor (FXR) ligands. Among them, 6alpha-ethyl-chenodeoxycholic acid (6-ECDCA) was shown to be a very potent and selective FXR agonist (EC(50) = 99 nM) and to be endowed with anticholeretic activity in an in vivo rat model of cholestasis.