25 “branched tail” oxyquinoline HIF activators were tested in ODD-luc reporter assay. The activation effect is sensitive to 5-Cl-substitution in the oxyquinoline ring. A 3-fold more potent HIF activator than the original compound has been identified. The oxyquinolines show no toxicity in “liver-on-a-chip” up to 200 μM concentration.