What is API?

In the modern pharmaceutical industry, there is a key element that quietly plays a vital role, it is Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). It is known as the core cornerstone of the pharmaceutical industry.

API is the active ingredient in a drug that really plays a therapeutic role and is the core of the drug. It is like the main ingredient in a dish, and other auxiliary ingredients are like side dishes to assist the main ingredient to bring out the best effect. In the case of common cold medicines, for example, acetaminophen is the antipyretic and analgesic ingredient, while other excipients such as starch and sucrose are used to help the medicine take shape and make it easier to take.

APIs come from a wide range of sources, both from plants, animals and other natural resources, such as artemisinin extracted from Artemisia annua for malaria treatment; can also be manufactured through chemical synthesis, most of the APIs of chemical drugs are synthesized through complex chemical reactions; but also with the help of biotechnology, the use of microbial fermentation or genetic engineering to produce, for example, insulin is the use of genetic engineering in the production of E. coli bacteria expression. For example, insulin is produced by genetic engineering in Escherichia coli.

As the core active ingredient of a drug, API determines the pharmacological action and therapeutic effect of the drug, and is a key factor in curing diseases, relieving symptoms and preventing the occurrence of diseases. Precise chemical structure and high purity API can ensure that the drug can accurately combine with specific targets in the body and play the expected therapeutic effect. Successful development of new APIs often means that more effective therapeutic means are available, making it possible to overcome difficult diseases. For example, the emergence of some new APIs targeting specific tumor cells has significantly improved the effectiveness of cancer treatment, improving the survival rate and quality of life of patients. With a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and genetic differences in the human body, APIs can be customized according to individual patient characteristics. For example, for certain patients with specific genetic mutations, a matching precision treatment API can be developed to achieve personalized precision medicine, improve the relevance and effectiveness of treatment, and reduce adverse reactions.