Potenttiutta

Potenttiutta is a term used in pharmacology and related disciplines to describe the potency of a substance—the amount of drug required to elicit a given response. In quantitative terms, potency is often expressed through dose–response metrics such as ED50 (the dose that produces 50% of the maximal effect) or EC50 (the concentration for 50% receptor activation). A drug with high potency requires a smaller dose to achieve the same effect, compared with a less potent compound.

Potenttiutta is not a measure of efficacy. Efficacy refers to the maximum achievable effect, whereas potency relates to the amount of drug needed. A compound can be highly potent but have low efficacy if it cannot elicit a strong response, and vice versa. Potency depends on factors such as receptor affinity, intrinsic activity, tissue distribution, metabolism, and the assay conditions used to measure the effect.

Understanding potency is important in drug development and toxicology. Researchers strive to optimize potency to achieve therapeutic effect with lower doses, potentially reducing side effects and cost. However, very high potency can raise safety concerns if small dose ranges cross into off-target or toxic effects. Potency estimates are context-dependent and may vary between in vitro and in vivo systems, species, and assay setups.

In Finnish, potenttiutta conveys the state or quality of being potent, and is used in scientific discussions to describe pharmacodynamic strength. The term is typically used alongside related concepts such as efficacy, selectivity, and pharmacokinetics to characterize a substance's overall pharmacological profile.