---
title: ChEMBL plugin
url: https://www.moldraw.com/docs/plugins/chembl-plugin-bioactivity-and-drug-target-lookup/
section: Plugins
updated: 2026-10-11
publisher: LabCanvas
---

# ChEMBL plugin

> Install ChEMBL from Settings, Plugins, open the ChEMBL tab, click Use canvas or type a name/ID, then press Lookup.

![MolDraw ChEMBL plugin showing aspirin CHEMBL25 record with max phase Approved and InChIKey](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/img/plugin-chembl-annotated-screenshot.webp)
*Searching "aspirin" finds CHEMBL25. You can load it, add it to the canvas or send it to Compare.*

1. ChEMBL tab in the analysis panel.
2. Query box: a name, ChEMBL ID (e.g. CHEMBL25) or the canvas structure.
3. Lookup runs the search.
4. Result tabs: Overview, Targets, Activity and Similar.

## What it does

ChEMBL is a free database of drug-like molecules. EMBL-EBI runs it. It holds millions of activity data points.

- **Search** finds a compound by name, ChEMBL ID or your drawing.
- **Targets** lists proteins the compound was tested on.
- **Activity** lists values like IC50 and Ki.
- **Similar** finds look-alike compounds. Load any of them to the canvas.

## Who it is for

Medicinal chemistry students. Researchers who check known activity. Teachers who show real drug data.

## How to use it

1. Open the [MolDraw editor](https://www.moldraw.com/) and sign in. Click **Settings**, then **Plugins**, then **Install** next to ChEMBL.
2. Draw a molecule or leave the canvas empty if you will search by name.
3. Open the **ChEMBL** tab (callout 1).
4. Type a name or ChEMBL ID in the query box (callout 2) or press **Use canvas**.
5. Press **Lookup** (callout 3).
6. Browse the **Overview, Targets, Activity, Similar** tabs (callout 4).
7. Use **Load to canvas**, **Append** or **Send to Compare** to keep working with a hit.

## Tips

- If a drawn structure is not found, check stereochemistry and charges; InChIKey matching is exact.
- Activity values from different assays are not directly comparable; open the assay link for conditions.
- Pair with [Lipinski's rule of five](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/lipinski-rule-calculator.html) and [drug-likeness](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/druglikeness-calculator.html) to screen hits.

## Questions and answers

**What is ChEMBL?**
A free, manually curated database of bioactive drug-like molecules maintained by EMBL-EBI, with over two million compounds and their measured activities against biological targets.

**Is the ChEMBL plugin free?**
Yes. It uses ChEMBL's public web services and needs only a free MolDraw account to install.

**Can I search by structure?**
Yes. Use canvas looks up the drawn molecule by InChIKey; the Similar tab finds related structures.