The next generation of PPAR drugs: Do we have the tools to find them?

Agonists of PPARα and PPARγ are currently approved for use in treating, respectively, dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes. Agonists of PPARβ/δ are currently in development by several pharmaceutical companies. Despite their therapeutic importance, there are dose limiting side effects associated with PPAR drug treatments, thus a new generation of safer PPAR drugs are being actively sought after. In this review we will discuss the side effects associated the PPARs, how the current drugs in clinical development were discovered and new concepts in how to screen for PPAR drugs.