title: A classification of drug substances according to their mechanism of action.
abstract: Different classification systems for therapeutic agents exist. The most commonly used one is the ATC Code (ATC: Anatomy, Therapeutic properties, Chemical, pharmacological properties). Here, an alternative classification system (TCAT: Target-Chemistry-Anatomy-Therapy) is proposed which refers to the molecular mechanism of action or rather, target. The main subgroups of targets are: enzymes; substrates, metabolies, proteins; receptors; ion channels; transporter molecules and systems; nucleic acids, ribosomes; physicochemical mechanisms; antigen-antibody reactions; unknown targets. This target-oriented approach may be particularly useful in teaching advanced medicinal chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Pharmazie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Germany. imming@pharmazie.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Imming
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Dailey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rogosch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000145:classification*; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations