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Fibric acid derivatives, or fibrates, are drugs prescribed to prevent heart disease. The drugs lower Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) levels by inhibiting its production in the liver and speeding up the removal of triglycerides from the blood. Lipoproteins transport insoluble fatty substances in the blood including cholesterol and triglycerides, VLDL is the triglyceride-rich fraction. Triglycerides are fatty substances made up of three fatty acids and are found in vegetable oil and animal fats. They have an important role in metabolism as they provide twice as much energy as carbohydrates and protein.

High circulating levels of triglycerides have been linked to atherosclerosis and heart disease and very high levels (>1000mg/dl) can cause painful inflammation of the pancreas. Fibrates are used to prevent pancreatitis and are used in conjunction with diet and statins to lower cholesterol since they can not lower LDL levels on their own, though they can increase HDL (so called "good" cholesterol) levels.

Fibrates activate PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors), a group of intracellular receptors that activate the transcription of factors used in lipid metabolism. Fibrates are pharmacologically related to anti-diabetic drugs that also act on certain subtypes of PPAR. Fibrates in the United States include Lopid (gemfibrozil) and Tricor (fenofibrate).

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