Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein X1 is N or CR5, wherein R5 is H, OH, halogen or alkyl; X2, X3 and X4 are each independently NH, N, S, O or CR6, wherein each R6 is independently H, OH, halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, haloalkyl, —O—(alkyl), —S—(alkyl), —NH2, —NH—(alkyl), —N(alkyl)2 or —CO2H; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —NO2, —CN, —CF3, —CF2H, —OCF3, -(alkyl), -(haloalkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(aryl), -(heteroaryl), -(cycloalkyl), -(cycloalkylalkyl), -(heteroalkyl), heterocycle, heterocycloalkyl, -(alkylheteroalkyl), -(alkylaryl), —OH, —OAc, —O-(alkyl), —O-(alkenyl), —O-(alkynyl), —O-(aryl), (heteroaryl), —SH, —S-(alkyl), —S-(alkenyl), —S-(alkynyl), —S-(aryl), —S-(heteroaryl), —NH2, —NH-(alkyl), —NH-(alkenyl), —NH-(alkynyl), —NH-(aryl), —NH-(heteroaryl), —C(O)R7, —S(O)R7, —SO2R7, —NHSO2R7, —OC(O)R7, —SC(O)R7, —NHC(O)R7 or —NHC(S)R7, wherein R7 is, H, —(alkyl), —OH, —O(alkyl), —NH2, —NH(alkyl)

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein X is CR6 or N; R1, R2, R3, R4, and R6 are each independently —H, —F, —Cl, —Br, —I, —NO2, —CN, —CF3, —CF2H, —OCF3, -(alkyl), -(haloalkyl), -(alkenyl), -(alkynyl), -(aryl), -(heteroaryl), -(cycloalkyl), -(cycloalkylalkyl), -(heteroalkyl), heterocycle, heterocycloalkyl, -(alkylheteroalkyl), -(alkylaryl), —OH, —OAc, —O-(alkyl), —O-(alkenyl), —O-(alkynyl), —O-(aryl), —O-(heteroaryl), —SH, —S-(alkyl), —S-(alkenyl), —S-(alkynyl), —S-(aryl), —S-(heteroaryl), —NH2, —NH-(alkyl), —NH-(alkenyl), —NH-(alkynyl), —NH-(aryl), —NH-(heteroaryl), —C(O)R7, —S(O)R7, —SO2R7, —NHSO2R7, —OC(O)R7, —SC(O)R7, —NHC(O)R8 or —NHC(S) R8, wherein R7 is, H, -(alkyl), —OH, —O(alkyl), —NH2, —NH(alkyl) or —N(alkyl)2, and wherein R8 is, -(alkyl), —O-(alkyl), —NH2, —NH(alkyl) or —N(alkyl)2; Y is O, S, N, NH, or a bond; Z is O, S, N, NH, (CH2)o, or a bond; R5 is H, OH, halogen, alkyl, or R5 is (CH2)p and is bound to Y when Y is N to form a ring together with Z; o and

Abstract: The subject invention provides a method for treating a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) disease in a subject afflicted therewith comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a compound which is a non-retinoid retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) antagonist effective to treat the subject, thereby treating the subject. The subject invention provides a method for treating gout in a subject afflicted therewith comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an amount of a compound which is a retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) antagonist effective to treat the subject, thereby treating the subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound having the structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are each independently H, halogen, CF3, C1-C4 alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl; X is N or CR6, wherein R6 is H, OH, or halogen; A is absent or present, and when present is B has the structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.