The present invention relates to cyclic amino benzoic acid derivatives which are effective in therapy of lipid metabolism abnormality, diabetes and the like as a human peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist, in particular, as an agonist against human PPARα isoform, and addition salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.A cyclic amino benzoic acid derivative represented by the general formula (1) [wherein a ring Ar represents an aryl group which may have substituent, or the like; Y represents a C1-C4 alkylene, C2-C4 alkenylene, C2-C4 alkynylene, or the like; Z represents an oxygen atom, sulfur atom or —(CH2)n— (n represents 0, 1 or 2); X represents a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, lower alkyl group which may be substituted with a halogen atom, or the like; R represents a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl group, and —COOR substitutes for an ortho position or metha position of binding position of ring W] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.