Racemates Less Safe. Rethink Chirality!
Synopsis Recently, an eye-opening commentary by Israel Agranat & Ilaria D’Acquarica, published in the European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2025), challenges a long-standing assumption in drug development: that single enantiomers are always the superior choice to racemic or diastereomeric mixtures in terms of efficacy and safety. Through historical analysis, case studies, and regulatory context, the authors argue that racemates should not be automatically dismissed during drug development. The article outlines both the advantages of racemates …