Final answer:
The change or biotransformation that occurs in a drug into a more or less potent, soluble, or inactive form is known as metabolism, which includes Phase I and Phase II reactions and is a critical aspect of pharmacokinetics in drug discovery and development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The change or biotransformation of a drug into a more or less potent, soluble, or inactive form is known as a metabolism action, which is a part of the pharmacokinetic activities in the body.
Pharmacokinetics involves the study of how drugs are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted within the body. Biotransformation, a key aspect of pharmacokinetics, typically happens in two phases. Phase I reactions include oxidation, reduction, and hydrolysis, which chemically modify the drug. Phase II reactions involve conjugation, where drugs are coupled with another substance to facilitate excretion.
Factors like the polymorphisms in cytochrome P450 enzymes can influence drug metabolism and activity, as can interactions with other drugs and the pharmacokinetic properties such as bioavailability and half-life. Effective drug discovery and development processes integrate extensive pharmacokinetic studies to identify the metabolic profile of drug candidates and predict potential drug-drug interactions.