Used as a selective antagonist for the GPR40 receptor, MRS 2578 plays a key role in research related to insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. It helps in studying the signaling pathways involved in type 2 diabetes, allowing scientists to better understand the function of free fatty acid receptors in metabolic regulation. Due to its specificity, it is widely applied in cellular and in vitro studies to block GPR40-mediated responses, aiding in the development and validation of new antidiabetic drugs.