What Is Considered an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient?

An active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is any substance or combination of substances in a pharmaceutical product intended to produce pharmacological activity or direct effect in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. APIs are sometimes called bulk active ingredients or drug substances.

What Are Examples of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients?

Common API examples include: Acetaminophen (paracetamol) – pain/fever reliever (Tylenol’s API) Ibuprofen – anti-inflammatory pain reliever Amoxicillin – antibiotic Metformin – diabetes management Atorvastatin – cholesterol-lowering agent Semaglutide – API in Ozempic for diabetes/type 2 diabetes

What Is API in Pharmaceuticals?

API refers to the pure, active drug substance before it’s formulated with other inactive ingredients (excipients) into a finished product such as tablets, capsules, injections, or syrups. The API is what treats or prevents disease, while excipients help with stability, absorption, and delivery.

What Are Pharmaceutical Services and Active Ingredients?

Pharmaceutical services include API manufacturing, custom synthesis, quality assurance, regulatory support, scale-up, and supply chain management for drug companies. They ensure APIs meet GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and regulatory standards. Active ingredients are the core compounds delivered by these services to drug manufacturers worldwide.

What Is the API in Tylenol?

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is the API in Tylenol—responsible for its pain-relieving and fever-reducing effects.

Where Do Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Come From?

APIs are manufactured via chemical synthesis, fermentation, plant extraction, or biotechnological processes. They originate from global API manufacturers—major hubs include China, India, the USA, and Europe. Plant-derived APIs are produced by extracting and purifying compounds from medicinal plants.

What Is the Most Common Active Ingredient in Medicine?

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is one of the world’s most frequently used APIs, found in painkillers, cold/flu tablets, and fever reducers.

Which Is the Largest Producer of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients?

China and India are the world’s largest producers and exporters of APIs, supplying both generic and patented pharmaceutical companies globally. The USA and Europe are also major manufacturers, particularly for high-value, patented, and regulated APIs.

Can APIs Be Plant-Derived?

Yes! Many APIs are plant-derived, such as: Digoxin (from foxglove, for heart conditions) Paclitaxel (from Pacific yew tree, for cancer) Morphine (from opium poppy, for pain) Botanical APIs are key in both prescription and herbal medicines.

What Is the Active Ingredient in Ozempic?

Semaglutide is the API in Ozempic, a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for type 2 diabetes and, increasingly, weight management.

Vaccines contain APIs—often as biological or protein-based antigens, inactivated viruses, or mRNA—that trigger an immune response rather than treat symptoms. The API in a vaccine is not a traditional small molecule, but rather a biological active substance.

What Is API in Drugs?

API stands for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient—the component in drugs responsible for their therapeutic action.

What Is a Generic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient?

A generic API is an active ingredient with the same chemical composition as its brand-name equivalent but produced after the original patent expires. It must meet all quality, efficacy, and regulatory standards for FDA approval.

Who Are the API Suppliers in the US?

Top US API suppliers include: Pfizer CentreOne Cambrex BASF Lonza Siegfried USA Mountainside Medical Equipment Specialty biotech firms and custom API manufacturers support domestic and global supply.

What Are Biological Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients?

Biological APIs (biologics) are large, complex molecules produced by living cells or organisms. Examples include insulin, growth hormone, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and recombinant proteins. They differ from small-molecule chemical drugs.

What Is Another Name for an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient?

Drug substance Bulk drug Active ingredient Bulk active These terms all refer to the pharmacologically active component of a medicine.

Key Features & Industry Benefits

High-purity, GMP-compliant APIs for every therapeutic class Supports brand-name and generic drug manufacturing Small molecule, biological, synthetic, and plant-derived APIs Global supply chains with regulatory support Custom synthesis, scale-up, and documentation for FDA/EMA

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

Explore premium Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for advanced drug formulation and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Our APIs meet strict GMP and FDA standards, ensuring purity, potency, and safety. Ideal for antibiotics, antivirals, analgesics, cardiovascular, oncology, and diabetes medications, our APIs support pharmaceutical research, generic drugs, and innovation. Optimize medicine production, quality control, and efficacy with our trusted, high-quality APIs for top healthcare solutions.

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L-Carnitine API Powder USP For Compounding
Mountainside Medical

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Boost Energy, Support Weight Management & Optimize Athletic Performance with Pure L-Carnitine USP-Grade Powder Experience pharmaceutical-grade ...
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from $ 59.00

Calamine API Powder USP For Custom Compounding
Mountainside Medical

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Ultimate Relief for Itchy, Irritated Skin: Pure Calamine USP-Grade Powder for Custom Pharmacy Compounding Unlock the power of pharmaceutical-grade ...
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from $ 215.00

Amphotericin B (AmpB) USP (Oral Grade) For Compounding (API) (Rx)
Mountainside Medical

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Amphotericin B (AmphB) USP (Oral Grade) active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent derived from Streptomyces nodos...
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from $ 75.00

Acetyl-L-carnitine Hydrochloride USP For Compounding (API) (Rx)
Mountainside Medical

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Acetyl-L-carnitine Hydrochloride USP is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) that is used in the production of medications and dietary supplem...
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from $ 85.00

Ketoconazole (Micronized) API Pure Powder For Custom Compounding
Mountainside Medical

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Ketoconazole (Micronized) API Powder is the pharmaceutical-grade, finely ground form of the antifungal drug ketoconazole, ready for use as a raw ma...
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from $ 140.00

Gabapentin USP Powder API For Customer Compounding
Mountainside Medical

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Premium Gabapentin USP Powder API – Pharmaceutical Grade For Compounding Pharmacies, Hospitals, and Veterinary Clinics Medisca’s Gabapentin USP Pow...
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from $ 215.00

Finasteride USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Finasteride USP For Compounding (API) is a high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredient used primarily for the treatment of androgenic alopecia (m...
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from $ 75.00

Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, USP is a prescription medication that is used to treat various bacterial infections such as urinary tract infections, ...
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from $ 18.50

Salicylic Acid USP Powder For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Salicylic Acid USP Powder for Compounding (API) is a high-quality active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the formulation of customized dermatolog...
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from $ 99.95

Clindamycin Phosphate API Powder USP For Custom Compounding (RX)
Mountainside Medical

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Clindamycin Phosphate API Powder refers to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) form of clindamycin phosphate in its raw, powdered state. Shi...
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Original price $ 275.00

Current price $ 229.00

Ceramides Xblend Powder for Compounding (API) 50 grams (Rx)
Mountainside Medical

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Ceramides Xblend Powder for Compounding is utilized in creating customized skin care formulations aimed at enhancing skin barrier function and hydr...
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Year End Sale 17%

Original price $ 325.00

Current price $ 269.00

First Progesterone VGS 100 mg Vaginal Suppository USP Compounding Kit (RX)
Azurity Pharmaceuticals

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The First Progesterone VGS 100 mg Vaginal Suppository USP Compounding Kit is designed for use in hormone replacement therapy, primarily to support ...
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from $ 69.00

Albuterol Sulfate API Powder USP for Custom Compounding by Spectrum
Spectrum

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Unlock ultimate respiratory support and patient-specific solutions with Albuterol Sulfate API Powder USP by Spectrum—the gold standard for compound...
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from $ 95.00

Triamcinolone Acetonide USP (Micronized) For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Triamcinolone Acetonide USP (Micronized) is a white to cream colored, crystalline powder, having not more than a slight odor. It is sparingly solub...
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from $ 60.00

Tobramycin Sulfate USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Timolol Maleate USP for Compounding (API) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used to formulate ophthalmic solutions and other medications for t...
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from $ 69.95

Threonine (L) USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Threonine (L) USP for Compounding (API) is an essential amino acid used in the formulation of specialized nutritional and therapeutic compounds. It...
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from $ 65.00

Theophylline USP (Anhydrous) For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Theophylline USP (Anhydrous) for Compounding is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used to create customized medications for managing respiratory ...
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from $ 135.00

Taurine USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Taurine USP for Compounding (API) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the preparation of customized dietary supplements and medications,...
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from $ 145.00

Sulfamethoxazole API Powder USP For Custom Compounding
Mountainside Medical

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Sulfamethoxazole API Powder is the purified antibiotic powder supplied to pharmaceutical manufacturers for use in preparing finished medications to...
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from $ 115.00

Sucralfate USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Sucralfate USP for Compounding (API) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used in the formulation of customized medications primarily for the tre...
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from $ 75.00

Spironolactone USP/EP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Spironolactone USP/EP for Compounding (API) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient used primarily in the formulation of medications for treating co...
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from $ 90.00

Sodium Hydroxide NF For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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Sodium Hydroxide NF for Compounding (API) is a versatile chemical used in the pharmaceutical compounding process primarily as a pH adjuster. It is ...
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from $ 46.00

Sodium Citrate USP (Dihydrate) For Compounding (API) (Rx)
Mountainside Medical

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Sodium Citrate USP (Dihydrate) is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) often used as a food additive and medication. It is a sodium salt of ci...
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from $ 89.00

Serine (L) USP For Compounding (API)
Mountainside Medical

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L-Ornithine Hydrochloride USP For Compounding (API) is an essential amino acid used in formulating nutritional supplements aimed at enhancing metab...
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