Glossary of Pharmacology 

Drug transport 

The process by which a drug enters or is removed from a cell or organelle.

Drug transport is mediated by protein carriers commonly referred to as drug transporters. Drug transporters can be classified as uptake (mediating drug entry into cells) or efflux (mediating drug exit from cells) transporters. Drug transporters are important in mediating the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs. Changes in the expression or activity of a drug transporter can substantially alter a drug’s pharmacokinetics. Genetic variation, drug interactions and disease are mechanisms known to mediate alteration of drug transporter expression and/or activity.

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