Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)

Why in news?

• The Government has made amendments in the export policy and restricted export of specified APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and formulations made from these APIs.

About API

• Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), is the term used to refer to the biologically active component of a drug product (e.g. tablet, capsule).

• Some drugs, such as combination therapies, have multiple active ingredients to treat different symptoms or act in different ways.

• All drugs are made up of two core components: the API, which is the central ingredient, and the excipient, the substances other than the drug that helps deliver the medication to your system.

• Excipients are chemically inactive substances, such as lactose or mineral oil in the pill.

• The quality of APIs has a significant effect on the efficacy (producing the result desired) and the safety of medications.

• Poorly manufactured or compromised APIs have been connected to serious issues, such as illnesses or death.

Prelims Question

Q.With reference to drug formulations, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is the biologically active component of a drug
2. Excipients are pharmaceutically inactive substances which help deliver medication to the body system
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to the Prelims Question