The fibrates are a class of cholesterol-lowering pharmaceuticals, mostly effective in lowering triglycerides, but also raise HDL-cholesterol. Three fibrates are licensed for use in the US (as of 2002): These are lofibrate, gemfibrozil, and fenofibrate. Of these, gemfibrozil is the most widely used. They are, generally, much less widely used than statins, because they are less effective at lowering LDL-cholesterol levels.
