Background: Relation between hypertriglyceridemia and cardiovascular diseases are proved recently. Fibrates is the most effective drug in lowering triglyceride clinically. However, little is known about its current development. Objective: Using cross-database patent analysis and products as well as sales value analysis, to map the development of fibrates. Method: Patents data were collected in March 2013 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the China Intellectual Property Right Net (CNIPR) to represent global patent activities. Patent distribution was analysed by chemical name, year, country, assignee as well as assignee sector, technological type and International Patent Classification (IPC) code. A technology roadmap aiming to identify the technology evolution pathway was drawn afterwards based on information extracted from the patents. Permitted products of fibrates with different specifications were retrieved from China Food and Drug Administration of China (CFDA) and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Global sales of fibrates were searched from IMS World Review 2010, sales growth from 2008 to 2012 was searched from MENET 2.0. Result: Most of the patents are fenofibrate preparation and fibrates combination patents. Patents for new monomers, derivatives and new application of old fibrates emerged recently. Differences exist between fibrates products permitted by FDA and CFDA, but lack of delayed release fibrates is same. Fibrates is the second top-selling drug in therapeutic category of lipid regulation and anti-atherosclerosis drug. Most of the expenditure were in the US, Europe and Japan. Growth rate of 2011-2012 in China was 17%. Fenofibrate had the highest sales, sales of its brand name drug was higher than that of generic. Bezafibrate had the highest growth rate, sales of its brand name drug was lower than that of generic. Sales of gemfibrozil kept declining recent years. Conclusion: Fibrates technology was led by Abbott, Ethypharm and Skyepharma. Fenofibrate preparation and fibrates combination were two core technologies. Fibrates market in developed countries was matured, while market in developing countries was in a growing stage. Commercialization of delayed or control release bezafibrate and fenofibric acid are the short-term market goals of fibrates. Preparation and combination, as well as patents of preparation and combination, influenced fibrates market performance a lot. New monomers or derivatives of fibrates, better drug delivery system and new application of old fibrates are long-term tendency of fibrates.