BAT = brown adipose tissue
Fexaramine is an investigational compound which acts as an agonist of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR), which is a bile acid-activated nuclear receptor that controls bile-acid synthesis. It induces enteric FGF15, changing the composition of biliary acids, thus enhancing BAT, thermogenesis, and decreasing glucose hepatic production and weight in mice.
See Fang S, et al. Intestinal FXR agonism promotes adipose tissue browning and reduces obesity and insulin resistance. Nat Med. 2015 Jan 5. doi: 10.1038/nm.3760.
Article Brown adipose tissue: What have we learned since its recent ...
Fexaramine reduced diet-induced weight gain, body-wide inflammation and hepatic glucose production, while enhanced thermogenesis and promoted browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in diet induced obesity (DIO) mice. Its effects in humans are not known yet.