English - English
Definition of prodrug in English English dictionary
- A drug that is administered in an inactive form that is metabolised in the body into a biologically active compound
- a drug that must be activated before it can produce a physiological effect
- A substance that can be converted to a chemotherapeutic drug; a precursor of a chemotherapeutic agent
- A compound that is converted within the body into the active form that has medical effects Prodrugs are useful when the active drug may be too toxic to administer systemically, the active drug is absorbed poorly by the digestive tract, or the body breaks down the active drug before it reaches its target
- an inactive form of a drug that exerts its effects after metabolic processes within the body convert it to a usable or active form