Which statement about ED50 is true?

Which statement about ED50 is true?

• A. It is the dose that produces the desired effect in 50% of individuals
• B. It is the dose that produces death in 50% of animals
• C. It is the dose that produces toxicity in 50% of individuals
• D. It is the dose that produces no effect in 50% of individuals

Answer: (A)

The key concept is the median effective dose: the dose that produces the desired therapeutic effect in 50% of individuals. ED50 reflects potency—the smaller the ED50, the more potent the drug, since less is needed to achieve the effect in half the population. It’s different from LD50, the dose that causes death in 50% of animals, or TD50, the dose that causes toxicity in 50% of individuals, and it’s not about producing no effect. Therefore, the statement describing the dose that yields the desired effect in 50% of people is the true one.

The key concept is the median effective dose: the dose that produces the desired therapeutic effect in 50% of individuals. ED50 reflects potency—the smaller the ED50, the more potent the drug, since less is needed to achieve the effect in half the population. It’s different from LD50, the dose that causes death in 50% of animals, or TD50, the dose that causes toxicity in 50% of individuals, and it’s not about producing no effect. Therefore, the statement describing the dose that yields the desired effect in 50% of people is the true one.