Pro-Drugs

Pro-Drugs

INTRODUCTION

A pro-drug is a chemically modified inert precursor of the drug that on biotransformation liberates the pharmacologically active parent compound. A pro-drug is also called as pro-agent, bio-reversible derivative, or latentiated drug. The design of pro-drug approach is also called as drug latentiation.

Ideal Properties

The ideal properties of pro-drugs are as follows:

• Drug and the carrier linkage must be cleared in vivo.

• It should not have intrinsic pharmacologic activity.

• It should rapidly transform, chemically or enzymatically, into the active form where desired

The metabolic fragments, apart from the active drug, should be nontoxic.