MedUnfold

See how your medicine works

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.

    Medicines explained

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    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.

    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.

    adapaleneDifferin
    topical retinoid

    Adapalene is a topical retinoid applied to the skin to treat acne. It normalises how skin cells grow and shed inside the follicle, keeps pores from clogging, and calms local inflammation. It is available in gels and creams and is used in adults and adolescents.

    albutrepenonacog alfaIdelvion
    recombinant coagulation factor IX

    Idelvion (albutrepenonacog alfa) is a long-acting recombinant factor IX product from CSL Behring for haemophilia B. Fused to albumin, it replaces the clotting factor that patients lack, preventing and treating bleeding episodes and reducing the need for frequent infusions.