Development of environmentally biodegradable drugs: what are the key challenges?

Pharmaceuticals enter the environment at various stages of their lifecycle, including during manufacturing, use, and disposal (Figure 1). Most approved pharmaceuticals exhibit poor environmental biodegradability, and wastewater treatment methods are largely ineffective in fully mineralizing these substances. This has led to increasing pharmaceutical contamination in the environment. A recent study tested 61 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in 258 rivers at 1,052 sampling locations, finding that over 25% of rivers globally contained at least one API at levels considered not safe for aquatic organisms. While the measured levels of APIs might be relatively safe for humans, they can still be harmful to wildlife and ecosystems. In this regard, evidence shows that certain pharmaceuticals, when released into the environment, can cause physiological, developmental, morphological, and behavioral changes in various species, highlighting the significant threat of pharmaceutical pollution to ecosystems.