Category: Drug metabolism

According to the National Institutes of Health, only the unbound or "free" fraction of a drug is pharmacologically active and can exert a therapeutic effect. This is precisely why protein-bound drug breakdown, or more accurately, dissociation, is a cornerstone of effective drug therapy and patient safety.

The human body's detoxification system consists of multiple phases, with Phase 2 conjugation being a critical step that renders most compounds less harmful and more excretable. This process attaches polar, water-soluble molecules to a substance, fundamentally altering its chemical properties for safe elimination.