The role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) in retinal biology is clarifying, and evidence demonstrates that novel PPARα agonists hold promising therapeutic utility for diseases like diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Herein, we disclose the design and initial structure-activity relationships for a new biaryl aniline PPARα agonistic chemotype. Notably, this series exhibits subtype selectivity for PPARα over other isoforms, a phenomenon postulated to be due to the unique benzoic acid headgroup. This biphenyl aniline series is sensitive to B-ring functionalization but allows isosteric replacement, and provides an opportunity for C-ring extension. From this series, <b>3g</b>, <b>6j</b>, and <b>6d</b> were identified as leads with <90 nM potency in a cell-based luciferase assay cell and exhibited efficacy in various disease-relevant cell contexts, thereby setting the stage for further characterization in more advanced <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> models.