Purpose: To examine international technology development of fibrates based on a cross-database quantitative patent review and to describe the evolution pathway for fibrates by means of a technology roadmap. Methods: The patent data were collected in March 2013 from United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO) and China Intellectual Property Right Net (CNIPR) to broadly represent global patent activities. Results: This study selected and examined 84 patents from USPTO, 41 patents from EPO and 39 patents from CNIPR. It showed that most of the fibrate patents were fenofibrate patents (41.67 % at USPTO, 46.34 % at EPO and 33.33 % at CNIPR). The number of preparation patents (44 at USPTO, 24 at EPO and 17 at CNIPR) and combination patents (23 at USPTO, 11 at EPO and 15 at CNIPR) was obviously larger than other types of fibrate patents. The technology roadmap shows that new monomersor derivatives of fibrates can drive fibrate evolution into a new cycle of application-synthesiscombination- preparation. Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive picture of fibrate development. It will aid researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers to identify foci for fibrate research and ensure better decision-making.