Human

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API)

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) play a crucial role in the characteristics of the final drug product, such as efficacy, quality, accessibility, and price. An API, also known as a drug substance, is an active compound in the drug formulation that induces therapeutic effects. APIs have a direct impact on the quality and costs of final pharmaceutical products.

Dietary and Medicinal Supplements

In terms of content, medicinal supplements contain vitamins and minerals, and they are used for treating diseases and preventing problems. However, the difference between them and dietary supplements lies in the dosage of their contents, and they are used for more critical situations. Therefore, they can be considered a type of medication. The ingredients of supplements are available in two forms: semi-finished products and active substances.

Pharmaceutical excipients
Excipients are also used in drug formulation alongside the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), but they do not possess any therapeutic or medicinal properties. These substances are employed for other purposes such as enhancing drug stability, creating buffering properties, protecting the drug against microbial factors, and so on.
 
Intermediate substance
Intermediates play a crucial role in the production process of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). These substances serve as intermediate stages in the production process and undergo chemical modifications and various reactions to be transformed into the active drug substance. The primary objective of forming intermediates is to introduce necessary changes and improvements in the drug molecule to optimize its properties and functionality. This process may involve reaction compounds, purification, decomposition, and molecular structuring. With precise control and stability in production, intermediates significantly impact the quality and final characteristics of the drug.
 
Drug intermediate
A drug intermediate is a partially synthesized substance used in the production of pharmaceutical drugs. It is an intermediate stage in the manufacturing process that occurs before the conversion into the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). The drug intermediate undergoes specific chemical changes and reactions before reaching its final form. It is important to control the quality and adhere to strict standards during the production and use of this intermediate due to its significance in drug production.