chembl-mcp-server
CommunityMCP server by cyanheads · updated · ★ 1 · 310 downloads a week
Link compounds to protein targets, rank bioactivity, and look up drug mechanisms and indications. chembl-mcp-server is a community project by cyanheads, not verified by a company domain.
Last commit 4 days ago
Apache-2.0: permissive, fine for commercial use
Clear description, published package or server URL, original repository
No risky patterns in the files we checked
What you need
| Setting | Needed | What it is |
|---|---|---|
CANVAS_PROVIDER_TYPEEnvironment variable | Optional | Set to 'duckdb' to enable the bioactivity DataCanvas spill and the chembl_dataframe_* SQL tools. When 'none', large bioactivity sets inline a preview but never spill. Default: none |
CHEMBL_API_BASE_URLEnvironment variable | Optional | Base URL for the ChEMBL REST data API. Override for a private mirror or pinned host. Default: https://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/api/data |
CHEMBL_REQUEST_TIMEOUT_MSEnvironment variable | Optional | Per-attempt timeout in milliseconds for an upstream ChEMBL request, capped by what is left of the call's time budget (45 s for most calls, CHEMBL_SPILL_DEADLINE_MS for a bioactivity spill). Default: 30000 |
CHEMBL_MAX_PAGE_SIZEEnvironment variable | Optional | Rows per upstream ChEMBL page (max 1000). The bioactivity spill walks pages of this size; an inline bioactivity page requests its limit, capped at this size. Default: 1000 |
CHEMBL_DEFAULT_LIMITEnvironment variable | Optional | Default result limit applied when callers omit it. Default: 25 |
CHEMBL_MAX_SPILL_ROWSEnvironment variable | Optional | Ceiling on rows chembl_get_bioactivities stages to a DataCanvas table, and so on the upstream page walk behind it. Over the cap the response reports truncated: true and truncated_by: "row_cap". Default: 50000 |
CHEMBL_MAX_CONCURRENT_PAGESEnvironment variable | Optional | Most chembl_get_bioactivities spill-page requests in flight at once (1–6), shared by every call on the server. Default: 4 |
CHEMBL_SPILL_DEADLINE_MSEnvironment variable | Optional | Time budget in milliseconds for one chembl_get_bioactivities spill, its count and page walk (10000–600000). At expiry the rows fetched so far stage with truncated: true and truncated_by: "time_budget". Default: 45000 |
CHEMBL_DATAFRAME_DROP_ENABLEDEnvironment variable | Optional | Set to 'true' to register the opt-in chembl_dataframe_drop tool (absent from tools/list when off). Default: false |
MCP_LOG_LEVELEnvironment variable | Optional | Sets the minimum log level for output (e.g., 'debug', 'info', 'warn'). Default: info |
From the publisher's entry in the official MCP Registry. Required settings are already in the install config below as placeholders.
Install chembl-mcp-server
Built from the published package, never by AIclaude mcp add chembl-mcp-server -- npx -y @cyanheads/chembl-mcp-serverRun in your terminal. Add --scope user to use it in every project.
{
"mcpServers": {
"chembl-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Settings, Developer, Edit config. Paste into claude_desktop_config.json and restart.
{
"mcpServers": {
"chembl-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project).
{
"servers": {
"chembl-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code uses "servers", not "mcpServers".
codex mcp add chembl-mcp-server -- npx -y @cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server{
"mcpServers": {
"chembl-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to ~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json (all projects) or .agents/mcp_config.json (this project).
gemini mcp add chembl-mcp-server npx -y @cyanheads/chembl-mcp-serverGemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI in June 2026 and remains only for enterprise licences and paid API keys.
MCP servers run with your permissions and can read what you give them access to. Some need an API key: check the README and add it under env in the chembl-mcp-server block.
Security check
ANo download-and-run commands, hidden instructions or signs of sending keys out were found.
Checked automatically: README.md, package.json. This looks for known risky patterns and is not a full audit. How grades work
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chembl-mcp-server: common questions
How do I install chembl-mcp-server?
In Claude Code run claude mcp add chembl-mcp-server -- npx -y @cyanheads/chembl-mcp-server. For Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code, paste the config shown above and restart. See the install guides.
Is chembl-mcp-server the official server?
chembl-mcp-server is a community project by cyanheads, not verified by a company domain.
Is chembl-mcp-server free?
The code is published under the Apache-2.0 licence. The service it connects to may have its own pricing.
Is chembl-mcp-server safe to use?
It scores 78 of 100. Grades: maintenance A, licence A, quality C. Security check: grade A, no risky patterns found in the files checked. Review the code before you install. How grades work.
What are alternatives to chembl-mcp-server?
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Does chembl-mcp-server work with ChatGPT?
Yes. Add its server URL in ChatGPT as a custom connector. See MCP in ChatGPT.
