---
title: "ChEMBL REST API"
description: "| Endpoint | Description | |----------|-------------| | `/molecule/{chembl_id}` | Get molecule by ChEMBL ID | | `/molecule/search?q={query}` | Free-text molecule search | | `/target/{chembl_id}` | Get target by ChEMBL ID | | `/target/search?q={query}` | Free-text target search | | `/activity?molecule_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for a molecule | | `/activity?target_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for"
type: skill
canonical_url: https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/chembl
source: "Claudary"
difficulty: intermediate
author: "Claude Code Knowledge Pack"
date: 2026-07-10T11:13:51.195Z
license: CC-BY-4.0
attribution: "ChEMBL REST API — Claudary (https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/chembl)"
---

# ChEMBL REST API
| Endpoint | Description | |----------|-------------| | `/molecule/{chembl_id}` | Get molecule by ChEMBL ID | | `/molecule/search?q={query}` | Free-text molecule search | | `/target/{chembl_id}` | Get target by ChEMBL ID | | `/target/search?q={query}` | Free-text target search | | `/activity?molecule_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for a molecule | | `/activity?target_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for

## Overview

# ChEMBL REST API

## Base URL
```
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/api/data
```

## Auth
No API key required. Fully open and free.

## Key Endpoints

| Endpoint | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| `/molecule/{chembl_id}` | Get molecule by ChEMBL ID |
| `/molecule/search?q={query}` | Free-text molecule search |
| `/target/{chembl_id}` | Get target by ChEMBL ID |
| `/target/search?q={query}` | Free-text target search |
| `/activity?molecule_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for a molecule |
| `/activity?target_chembl_id={id}` | Activities for a target |
| `/mechanism?molecule_chembl_id={id}` | Mechanism of action |
| `/drug_indication?molecule_chembl_id={id}` | Drug indications |
| `/similarity/{smiles}/{threshold}` | Similarity search (threshold 40-100) |
| `/substructure/{smiles}` | Substructure search |

## Common Parameters

- `format=json` — response format (default json)
- `limit` — results per page (default 20, max 1000)
- `offset` — pagination offset
- `order_by` — sort field (prefix `-` for descending)
- `only` — return only specified fields (comma-separated)

### Filtering operators (append to field names)
`__exact`, `__icontains`, `__gt`, `__gte`, `__lt`, `__lte`, `__in`, `__isnull`, `__startswith`, `__range`, `__regex`

## Example Calls

```
# Get molecule by ID
/molecule/CHEMBL25.json

# Search molecules by name
/molecule/search?q=aspirin&format=json

# Activities for a target with potency filter
/activity?target_chembl_id=CHEMBL240&pchembl_value__gte=6&format=json&limit=100

# Similarity search (80% threshold)
/similarity/CC(%3DO)Oc1ccccc1C(%3DO)O/80.json

# Approved drugs only
/molecule?max_phase=4&format=json

# Mechanism of action
/mechanism?molecule_chembl_id=CHEMBL25&format=json
```

## Response Format (molecule)
```json
{
  "page_meta": {"limit": 20, "offset": 0, "total_count": 150},
  "molecules": [{
    "molecule_chembl_id": "CHEMBL25",
    "pref_name": "ASPIRIN",
    "max_phase": 4,
    "molecule_properties": {
      "full_mwt": 180.16, "full_molformula": "C9H8O4",
      "alogp": 1.31, "hba": 3, "hbd": 1, "psa": 63.60
    },
    "molecule_structures": {
      "canonical_smiles": "CC(=O)Oc1ccccc1C(=O)O",
      "standard_inchi_key": "BSYNRYMUTXBXSQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N"
    }
  }]
}
```

## Rate Limits
No strict limit. Keep under ~10 req/sec. No auth required.

---

Source: [Claudary](https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com/skills/chembl) · https://claudary.paisolsolutions.com