EC50, or the half-maximal effective concentration, is a measure used to indicate the concentration of a drug or ligand that produces 50% of its maximum effect. This term is crucial in understanding how effectively a compound interacts with its target receptors and can help compare the potencies of different drugs. By studying EC50 values, scientists can assess the efficacy of agonists and antagonists within receptor theory, allowing for better drug design and therapeutic applications.
congrats on reading the definition of EC50. now let's actually learn it.