Compositions and methods for reducing serum glucose and triglyceride levels in diabetic mammals

A compound of the formula

• where R1 is alkyl of 1 to 3 carbons;
• R3 is alkyl of 1 to 3 carbons;
• R4 is alkyl of 1 to 3 carbons;
• R5 is H or alkyl of 1 to 3 carbons, and
• R7 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound.

A process for treating a diabetic Type II condition in a mammal comprising administering a compound of the formula to said mammal to reduce the serum glucose level of said mammal

• where R1 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R2 independently is H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, or halogen;
• m is an integer having the values 0 to 2;
• R3 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R4 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R5 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R6 is H or F, and
• R7 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound and wherein the compound is at least 1.5 times more efficacious as agonist of RXRβ retinoid receptors than as agonists of RXRα or RXRγ retinoid receptors.

A method of selecting a compound that is capable of reducing serum glucose level and serum triglyceride level in a mammal having Type II diabetes condition when said compound is administered to the mammal without reducing serum thyroxine level of the mammal, the method comprising the steps of:

• assaying several compounds of the formula
• as agonists of RXRα, RXRβ and RXRγ retinoid receptors, and identifying the compound that is at least 1.5 times more efficacious as agonist of RXRβ retinoid receptors than as agonist of RXRα or RXRγ retinoid receptors where in the formula of the compound
• R1 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R2 independently is H, alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, or halogen;
• m is an integer having the values 0 to 2;
• R3 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R4 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R5 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;
• R6 is H or F, and
• R7 is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound.