Peruspotenssi

Peruspotenssi, or base potency, is a term used in pharmacology to describe the intrinsic ability of a chemical compound to elicit a pharmacological response under standardized conditions. It refers to the potency of a substance independent of formulation, route of administration, metabolism, or other in vivo factors, and is often contrasted with overall in vivo potency.

In practice, peruspotenssi is typically inferred from in vitro or standardized assay data. It is commonly expressed through metrics such as the concentration or dose required to achieve a specified effect, for example an EC50 or ED50 value, relative to a reference compound. The aim is to reflect the fundamental affinity or activity of the molecule at a target, without confounding influences from pharmacokinetics or systemic distribution.

Several factors can influence measured peruspotenssi. Chemical structure and receptor or target affinity determine how readily a compound produces a detectable response. The choice of assay, cell type, temperature, pH, and other experimental conditions also affect the observed potency. Species differences and protein binding, as well as metabolic stability, become relevant when translating in vitro potency to in vivo contexts.

The term is used to compare the intrinsic activity of related substances, for example in early drug discovery or structure–activity studies. However, peruspotenssi is not a universal, standardized endpoint on its own; it is one piece of a broader assessment that includes efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties to predict clinical performance.