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.