An analog of retinoic acid that acts as a selective RARα agonist (EC50 values are 0.3, 8.6 and 13 nM for RARα, RARβ and RARγ respectively). Significantly induces IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 and inhibits IL-12 and IFNγ synthesis, and induces cell differentiation with over 7 times the activity of retinoic acid in vitro.