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Guidetopharmacology MCP Server

Developer ToolsModerate6.2MCP RegistryLocalRemote
Free

Server data from the Official MCP Registry

IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (GtoPdb) MCP — BYO key.

About

IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (GtoPdb) MCP — BYO key.

Remote endpoints: streamable-http: https://gateway.pipeworx.io/guidetopharmacology/mcp

Security Report

6.2
Moderate6.2Moderate Risk

This is a well-structured MCP server for querying the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY database. The codebase demonstrates strong error handling, proper input validation, and appropriate use of authentication (API key required). Permissions are narrowly scoped to HTTP network calls for a legitimate data source. Minor code quality observations exist around broad exception handling and logging practices, but these do not present security risks. Supply chain analysis found 1 known vulnerability in dependencies (0 critical, 1 high severity).

3 files analyzed · 5 issues found

Security scores are indicators to help you make informed decisions, not guarantees. Always review permissions before connecting any MCP server.

Permissions Required

This plugin requests these system permissions. Most are normal for its category.

HTTP Network Access

Connects to external APIs or services over the internet.

env_vars

Check that this permission is expected for this type of plugin.

How to Install & Connect

Available as Local & Remote

This plugin can run on your machine or connect to a hosted endpoint. during install.

Documentation

View on GitHub

From the project's GitHub README.

mcp-guidetopharmacology

IUPHAR/BPS Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (GtoPdb) MCP — BYO key.

Part of Pipeworx — an MCP gateway connecting AI agents to 1704+ live data sources. This is an independent, unofficial integration — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by the upstream provider.

Tools

ToolDescription
search_ligandsSearch the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (IUPHAR/BPS) — an expert-curated pharmacology database — for drug ligands by name. Returns matching ligands with their GtoPdb ligand id, type (e.g. Synthetic organic, Peptide, Antibody, Metabolite), and approval status. Use the returned ligand id with ligand_interactions to find which protein targets it acts on. Requires a GtoPdb API key — register free at guidetopharmacology.org/login.jsp and pass your own via _apiKey. Complements ChEMBL/DrugBank.
search_targetsSearch the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (IUPHAR/BPS) — an expert-curated pharmacology database — for protein targets by name. Returns matching targets with their GtoPdb target id, abbreviation, and type (e.g. GPCR, CatalyticReceptor, Enzyme, Transporter). Use the returned target id with target_interactions to find ligands that bind it. Requires a GtoPdb API key — register free at guidetopharmacology.org/login.jsp and pass your own via _apiKey. Complements ChEMBL/DrugBank.
target_interactionsList the quantitative ligand interactions for a protein target in the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (IUPHAR/BPS). Given a GtoPdb target id (from search_targets), returns the ligands acting on it with interaction type (Agonist/Antagonist/Inhibitor/etc.), action, and binding affinity (e.g. pKi/pIC50). Requires a GtoPdb API key — register free at guidetopharmacology.org/login.jsp and pass your own via _apiKey.
ligand_interactionsWhat proteins a drug acts on — the curated target interactions for a ligand in the Guide to PHARMACOLOGY (IUPHAR/BPS), each with the target PROTEIN NAME, interaction type (Agonist/Antagonist/Inhibitor), action and binding affinity (pKi/pIC50). Pass the drug by name ("imatinib") and it is resolved for you; a GtoPdb ligand id also works. The response always names the ligand it actually read, so an id that turns out to be a different compound is visible rather than silent. Requires a GtoPdb API key — register free at guidetopharmacology.org/login.jsp and pass your own via _apiKey.

Quick Start

Add to your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, etc.):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "guidetopharmacology": {
      "url": "https://gateway.pipeworx.io/guidetopharmacology/mcp"
    }
  }
}

What this endpoint actually serves

tools/list at https://gateway.pipeworx.io/guidetopharmacology/mcp returns the tools in the table above plus the shared Pipeworx meta-tools — ask_pipeworx, discover_tools, search_within, remember/recall and the rest of the gateway-wide set. So the tool count you see is larger than this table: a single-pack endpoint currently lists roughly 30 shared tools alongside the pack's own. The connection's initialize response states its exact scope, and is the authoritative answer for a given day.

This is deliberate, not multiplexing by accident. The meta-tools are what let a scoped connection answer a question this pack does not cover — via ask_pipeworx, which routes across the whole catalog — without you adding a second MCP server. There is currently no way to mount a pack endpoint without them; if the extra schemas cost you more context than the routing is worth, connect to the full gateway once rather than to several pack endpoints.

Or connect to the full Pipeworx gateway to get every pack's tools listed directly, instead of just this one's:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pipeworx": {
      "url": "https://gateway.pipeworx.io/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Both URLs reach the same gateway and the same 1704+ data sources. The only difference is which pack's tools are listed directly; ask_pipeworx reaches all of them from either one.

No MCP client? Call it over HTTP

This pack takes your own API key (_apiKey) — we don't front one for it, so there's no curl here that would run without it. Inspect any tool: GET https://gateway.pipeworx.io/v1/tools/search_ligands. Find one: POST https://gateway.pipeworx.io/v1/tools/search_packs with {"query":"..."}.

Standalone (no gateway account)

This package also runs as a local stdio MCP server — no Pipeworx account, no gateway round-trip:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "guidetopharmacology": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@pipeworx/mcp-guidetopharmacology"]
    }
  }
}

Or run it directly to confirm it starts:

npx -y @pipeworx/mcp-guidetopharmacology

It speaks MCP over stdin/stdout and answers initialize/tools/list/tools/call for only this pack's tools — none of the shared meta-tools the gateway connection above adds. Same source, same tools, no ask_pipeworx routing.

Using with ask_pipeworx

Instead of calling tools directly, you can ask questions in plain English — this works on the pack endpoint above as well as on the full gateway:

ask_pipeworx({ question: "your question about Guidetopharmacology data" })

The gateway picks the right tool and fills the arguments automatically.

More

License

MIT

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