APIs are pharmacologically active ingredients in drugs that have therapeutic effects and are key components in the preparation of preparations (the final product of the drug). APIs are usually not taken directly and need to be processed into various preparations before use. Their main uses include the following aspects:
Treatment of diseases: APIs are the main drug ingredients for the treatment of various diseases. For example, aspirin is used to relieve pain and control fever, and cetirizine hydrochloride is a prescription drug for the treatment of schizophrenia.
Control of symptoms: Some APIs are used to control specific symptoms rather than directly treat the disease. For example, antihistamines are used to relieve nasal congestion and itching caused by allergic reactions.
Topical treatment: Some APIs are used as topical medications to treat skin diseases, wound healing, or other skin problems. For example, hydrocortisone is a commonly used topical corticosteroid used to treat skin problems caused by inflammation.
Prevention of diseases: Some APIs are used to prevent diseases. For example, the active ingredients in vaccines can guide the immune system to produce specific antibodies to prevent the occurrence of a certain disease.
In addition, APIs can also be prepared through chemical synthesis, plant extraction or biotechnology, including various powders, crystals, extracts, etc. used as medicines. According to their uses and preparation methods, APIs can be divided into bulk APIs, specialty APIs and patented APIs. Bulk APIs mainly include traditional drug APIs with relatively stable market demand and relatively common applications; specialty APIs refer to specialty APIs of drugs that have passed the patent period, that is, generic drug APIs; patented APIs mainly refer to APIs used to manufacture patented drugs (original research drugs, innovative drugs).