MedUnfold

See how medicines work

MedUnfold explains what medicines do in the body, in plain language, built from official labels and regulator records.

Educational content. Not medical advice.

    How MedUnfold works

    1. Collected from official sources

      Approved uses come from regulators and official labels, such as the FDA, EMA, DailyMed, and national health libraries.

    2. Cross-checked

      A page is published only after at least two independent official sources agree with each other.

    3. Unfolded in three layers

      Every mechanism is explained as an analogy, in simple terms, and in depth, so you can stop at the layer that works for you.

    Browse by mechanism

    Grouped by therapeutic area. Open an area to see its drug classes; pick one to jump straight to those medicines.

    Cancer25 classes · 44 medicines
    CDK4/6 inhibitor3BTK inhibitor2VEGF inhibitor2ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor1androgen receptor inhibitor3PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor3multi-kinase inhibitor2PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor9EGFR-blocking antibody1BRAF kinase inhibitor1CD38-directed antibody1selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD)1VEGFR kinase inhibitor1tyrosine kinase inhibitor1CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor1CD38-directed cytolytic antibody1IDH1 inhibitor1immunomodulatory imide drug1PARP inhibitor2third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor1HER2/neu receptor antagonist2BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor1CD20-directed monoclonal antibody1BCL-2 inhibitor1Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor1
    Immune & inflammation15 classes · 23 medicines
    TNF-alpha inhibitor3JAK inhibitor2interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody1IL-17A and IL-17F inhibitor1targeted-release corticosteroid1IL-4/IL-13 signalling inhibitor1TNF blocker1IL-23 inhibitor3IL-17A inhibitor2IL-13 inhibitor2IL-5 antagonist1Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor2IL-6 receptor antagonist1IL-12 and IL-23 inhibitor1integrin receptor antagonist1
    Metabolic & hormonal10 classes · 16 medicines
    alpha-glucosidase inhibitor1SGLT2 inhibitor3GLP-1 receptor agonist3progestin contraceptive1rapid-acting insulin analogue2long-acting insulin analogue2biguanide1cortisol synthesis inhibitor1DPP-4 inhibitor1dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist1
    Heart & blood13 classes · 18 medicines
    recombinant coagulation factor IX1PCSK9 inhibitor2calcium channel blocker1factor Xa inhibitor3salicylate anti-inflammatory1HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin)2P2Y12 platelet inhibitor2direct thrombin inhibitor1long-acting G-CSF analogue1ACE inhibitor1angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor1transthyretin stabilizer (ATTR cardiomyopathy)1prostacyclin mimetic1
    Infections & vaccines10 classes · 12 medicines
    penicillin antibiotic1integrase strand transfer inhibitor3cephalosporin antibiotic1first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic1mRNA COVID-19 vaccine1integrase strand transfer inhibitor and nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor combination1HPV vaccine1HIV-1 capsid inhibitor1pneumococcal conjugate vaccine1recombinant zoster vaccine1
    Brain & mind10 classes · 17 medicines
    atypical antipsychotic6anticonvulsant1CGRP receptor antagonist2CGRP antagonist2α4-integrin antibody (multiple sclerosis)1antisense oligonucleotide (spinal muscular atrophy)1CD20-directed monoclonal antibody (multiple sclerosis)1gabapentinoid anticonvulsant1intravenous general anesthetic1VMAT2 inhibitor1
    Breathing & allergy4 classes · 4 medicines
    inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-2 agonist combination1long-acting beta-2 agonist1antihistamine and corticosteroid nasal spray1short-acting beta2-adrenergic agonist1
    Eye care1 classes · 2 medicines
    prostaglandin analog2
    Other areas37 classes · 40 medicines
    selective T-cell costimulation modulator1CYP17 inhibitor1topical retinoid1phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor1macrolide antibacterial1cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor1FGF23-blocking antibody1proteasome inhibitor1COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug1RANKL inhibitor1vasopressin analogue1TYK2 inhibitor1acetylcholinesterase inhibitor1serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor1CFTR modulator combination1nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor combination1Nectin-4-directed antibody-drug conjugate1selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor2cholesterol absorption inhibitor1immune globulin (intravenous/subcutaneous)1fluoroquinolone antibacterial1NMDA receptor antagonist1leukotriene receptor antagonist1anti-IgE monoclonal antibody1proton pump inhibitor2neuraminidase inhibitor1CD79b-directed antibody-drug conjugate1sclerostin inhibitor1Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate1PDE5 inhibitor2HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor and NS5A replication complex inhibitor combination1KRAS G12C inhibitor1parathyroid hormone analog1long-acting muscarinic antagonist (anticholinergic)1MEK inhibitor1C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) analog1transthyretin-directed small interfering RNA1

    Medicines explained

    Browse all medicines →
    abemaciclibVerzenio
    CDK4/6 inhibitor

    Verzenio (abemaciclib) is an oral CDK4/6 inhibitor from Eli Lilly. It blocks cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6, keeps the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein unphosphorylated, and arrests cancer cells in the G1 phase before they can replicate their DNA. It is used, mostly alongside endocrine therapy, in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

    abataceptOrencia
    selective T-cell costimulation modulator

    Abatacept (Orencia) is a biologic medicine that calms overactive immune responses by blocking a key step in T-cell activation. It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and to help prevent acute graft-versus-host disease after stem cell transplant.

    abiraterone acetateZytiga
    CYP17 inhibitor

    Abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) is an oral medicine that lowers the body's production of androgens by blocking an enzyme needed to make testosterone. It is used with prednisone to treat metastatic castration-resistant and castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

    acalabrutinibCalquence
    BTK inhibitor

    Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a selective Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor from AstraZeneca. By locking BTK, it cuts the survival and multiplication signal that malignant B cells rely on, and is used in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and mantle cell lymphoma, alone or with antibody-based combinations.

    acarbosePrecose
    alpha-glucosidase inhibitor

    Acarbose is an oral alpha-glucosidase inhibitor for type 2 diabetes. It slows the enzymes that digest starch and sucrose in the small intestine, so glucose enters the blood more gradually and post-meal blood sugar rises stay smaller. It is used alongside diet and exercise in adults.

    adalimumabHumira
    TNF-alpha inhibitor

    Humira (adalimumab) is a fully human monoclonal antibody from AbbVie that neutralises tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a key driver of inflammatory disease. It is used across several chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis and uveitis.