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DNB Pharmacology Previous Year Questions

These are the DNB Pharmacology theory questions asked by NBEMS in the December 2025 and June 2025 exams, listed paper by paper as they appeared. The Prep DNB app has all 18 DNB sessions from December 2014 to December 2025 — 710 questions in total — with repeat-question tracking, examiner keywords and MCQs.

Jump to: December 2025 · June 2025 · Important topics · Older papers

DNB Pharmacology December 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. What are different types of receptors for drug action? Describe nuclear receptors with examples. [4+6]
  2. Describe the different membrane transporters involved in neuronal reuptake of the neurotransmitters and drugs affecting their regulation in brain. [5+5]
  3. Describe the importance of the following in pharmacotherapy with suitable examples: a) Tachyphylaxis and tolerance. [5] b) Cytochrome polymorphism. [5]
  4. What is a signal in pharmacovigilance? Describe the various approaches to signal detection & discuss signal management. [2+(4+4)]
  5. Define medication adherence. Discuss the factors influencing patientssadherence to medication. How to assess and improve medication adherence in patients? [2+3+5]
  6. What are the intellectual property rights (IPR) and patents? Discuss IPR issues in drug development. [4+6]
  7. What is 'Bioenhancer? Describe factors affecting drug absorption with suitable examples. [3+7]
  8. Describe the factors modifying the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the drug in a pregnant woman. Discuss teratogenicity with suitable examples. [5+5]
  9. What is therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)'? Describe the utility and limitations of TDM in a hospital setting. [3+(4+3)]
  10. What is good laboratory practice (GLP)'? Describe OECD principles of GLP in reference to pharmaceutical drug development. [3+7]

Paper 2

  1. What are the different mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics? Describe antibiotic stewardship program. [5+5]
  2. Enumerate various small molecules used as immunosuppressants. Describe their mechanism of action, clinical uses and adverse effects. [2+(3+3+2)]
  3. Enumerate the drugs used for treatment of hypertension. Discuss the mechanism of action & adverse effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. [4+(3+3)]
  4. Enumerate the various drugs available for treatment of HIV infection. Describe the mechanism of action and adverse effects of integrase inhibitors. [4+(3+3)]
  5. Discuss current status of Vitamin D with respect to mechanism of action, concentrations in human body, recommended daily allowance, and potential clinical uses. [2+2+2+4]
  6. Enumerate the drugs used in peptic ulcer disease. Compare and contrast between potassium-competitive acid blockers versus proton pump inhibitors. [4+6]
  7. What are mitochondrial disruptors? Describe the agents with beneficial and harmful effects on mitochondrial function. [2+(4+4)]
  8. Enumerate newer anti-seizure medications. Describe their mechanism of action, uses and adverse effects. [2+(3+3+2)]
  9. Describe pharmacotherapy of benign hyperplasia of prostate. Discuss rationale of each drug given for its treatment. [5+5]
  10. Enumerate the different hematopoietic growth factors. Describe the drug therapy for anaemia due to chronic renal failure. [5+5]

Paper 3

  1. What is CCSEA? Describe its functions. What are the methods of euthanasia approved for rodents as per CCSEA guidelines? [2+3+5]
  2. What are radioimmunoassay studies? Describe their principle, advantages and limitations. [2+(3+3+2)]
  3. Explain the principle of recombinant DNA technology. Describe its applications in pharmacotherapy. [2+8]
  4. What are biosensors? Write their applications in drug development and pharmacotherapy. [2+(4+4)]
  5. Discuss the aims, methodology and limitations of acute toxicity studies done on animals. [3+4+3]
  6. What is Real World Data? How real-world clinical trials differ from traditional clinical trials? [2+8]
  7. Describe the principle and uses of following: a) Studentsst-test. [2.5] b) Analysis of Covariance. [2.5] c) Kaplan-Meier curves. [2.5] d) Pearsonssr. [2.5]
  8. Describe the various experimental evaluation methods to screen a potential analgesic drug. [10]
  9. Mention the required documents/data that need to be submitted to the drug regulators for obtaining IND approval. Discuss the battery of safety studies conducted before IND application. [3+7]
  10. Discuss the basic ethical principles in clinical trials. What are the different types of reviews done by IEC based on study types? Which types of studies can apply for waiver of ethical approval? [5+3+2]

Paper 4

  1. Define metabolomics. Discuss their role in drug development giving suitable examples. [3+7]
  2. What is precision medicine? Describe the precision medicine approach in critical care medicine. [3+7]
  3. Mention the different types of COVID vaccines. Describe the phases of clinical trials for vaccine development. [3+7]
  4. Describe the following: a) Pharmacometrics. [5] b) Pharmacogenomics. [5]
  5. What is a multicentric clinical trial? Describe the methods and issues in conduct of a multicentric clinical trial. [3+(4+3)]
  6. Describe the applications, ethical concern and limitations of artificial intelligence in drug development and medication use. [4+3+3]
  7. What is essential medicine concept? Describe the advantages and issues in adherence to 'National list of essential medicines' in Indian healthcare system. [3+(4+3)]
  8. Define Pharmacoeconomics. Describe different types of Pharmacoeconomic studies. [3+7]
  9. Describe the following: a) Randomization and blinding in clinical trials. [5] b) Organ-on-a-chip. [5]
  10. Describe the current recommendations and recent advances in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. [5+5]

DNB Pharmacology June 2025 Question Paper

Paper 1

  1. Describe physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics models (Pb-PK-PD) and their clinical applications. [10]
  2. a) Define various therapeutic biologics? [5] b) Discuss in brief metabolism of therapeutic biologics. [3] c) Clinical implications. [2]
  3. Describe importance of systems pharmacology. [10]
  4. Describe importance of photo - pharmacology in drug development. [10]
  5. a) What is the concept of 4Rs in research on experimental animals? [5] b) Discuss the role of CCSEA in research on experimental animals. [5]
  6. a) How is the quality of medicine assessed? [7] b) When is a medicine categorized as not of standard quality (NSQ), spurious and counterfeit medicine? [3]
  7. a) Briefly explain drug addiction, drug dependence and drug abuse. [6] b) Write a brief note on their management. [4]
  8. Discuss safety/efficacy biomarkers and surrogate markers with suitable examples. [10]
  9. a) Briefly explain generic medicines. [2.5] b) Branded medicines. [2.5] c) Branded generic medicines. [2.5] d) Pseudo-generic medicines. [2.5]
  10. Explain importance of regulatory toxicity studies for filing Investigational New Drug (IND) application. [10]

Paper 2

  1. Briefly discuss stem cell therapy, its clinical applications and current scenario in India. [10]
  2. Briefly discuss the role of biologics and biosimilar in the management of neoplastic diseases with suitable examples. [10]
  3. Describe briefly the management of MDR and XDR tuberculosis as per the current guidelines. [10]
  4. Enumerate the drugs for the therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Make a comparative efficacy and safety evaluation as per the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG). [10]
  5. Describe briefly the drugs used for Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)'. [10]
  6. a) Explain briefly dope test. [4] b) Anti-doping rule violations. [3] c) Therapeutic use exemptions. [3]
  7. a) Describe pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorders. [6] b) What are the newer targets and recently approved antidepressant drugs? [4]
  8. a) What is a placebo? [3] b) Discuss the role of placebo in clinical trials. [7]
  9. Briefly discuss the pharmacotherapy of congestive heart failure. [10]
  10. Use and current recommendations of multiple micronutrients in pregnancy and lactation. [10]

Paper 3

  1. a) Discuss the aims of acute toxicity studies done on animals. [3] b) Methodology. [5] c) Limitations. [2]
  2. a) What is Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)'? [4] b) Describe its usefulness in clinical research. [3] c) Limitations in clinical research. [3]
  3. Discuss the concept of reverse pharmacology and its importance. [10]
  4. Critically comment and compare research article, systematic review and meta-analysis. [10]
  5. Describe pre-clinical models for evaluation of anti-cancer drugs. [10]
  6. Explain in brief the differences between statistical and clinical significance. [10]
  7. Make a comparative evaluation of CCSEA and ARRIVE guidelines for animal experimentations. [10]
  8. a) What is an academic clinical trial? [5] b) What are the differences with respect to industry sponsored clinical trials? [5]
  9. a) What are rare diseases. Give suitable examples. [5] b) Briefly discuss the drugs for rare disease along with a note on the development process. [5]
  10. Discuss the screening methods for evaluation of anti-tubercular agents. [10]

Paper 4

  1. Describe recent advances in the treatment of neoplastic diseases. [10]
  2. Describe briefly future of drugs and the microbiome. [10]
  3. a) What are various confounding factors in clinical trials? [5] b) Briefly discuss the double-blind design. [5]
  4. Discuss briefly the ethical considerations for clinical trials on vulnerable population with special reference to the Indian population. [10]
  5. Discuss treatment options and recent development for treatment of infertility. [10]
  6. a) What are the pros and cons of combining probiotics with antibiotic therapy? [5] b) Discuss briefly the rationality/irrationality of the combinations available in the Indian market. [5]
  7. Discuss the materiovigilance programme of India (MvPI) with suitable examples. [10]
  8. Discuss the concept of organization of economic corporation, development guidelines and pre-clinical toxicity studies. [10]
  9. Discuss the role of miRNA and siRNA in therapeutics. [10]
  10. a) Nonadditive drugs of abuse. [5] b) Drugs that bind to transporters of biogenic amines. [5]

High-Yield DNB Pharmacology Topics

A selection of 24 of the 50 important topics curated in the app from repeated DNB Pharmacology questions.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics — foundation

  • Absorption: bioavailability, first-pass metabolism, routes of administration
  • Distribution: Vd, plasma protein binding, blood-brain barrier, pregnancy/lactation categories
  • Metabolism: Phase I/II reactions, CYP450 inducers/inhibitors, prodrugs, genetic polymorphism

Autonomic nervous system

  • Cholinergic agonists and anticholinesterases; anticholinergics (atropine, ipratropium)
  • Organophosphate poisoning: mechanism, atropine and pralidoxime treatment
  • Neuromuscular blockers: succinylcholine vs rocuronium, sugammadex reversal

Cardiovascular drugs — high yield

  • Antihypertensives: ACEi/ARB, CCB, thiazides, beta-blockers — mechanisms and side effects
  • Heart failure: ACEi/ARNI, beta-blockers, MRA, SGLT2i, digoxin
  • Anti-anginals: nitrates (tolerance), beta-blockers, CCBs, ranolazine

CNS pharmacology

  • General anaesthetics: propofol, ketamine, inhalational agents (MAC concept)
  • Local anaesthetics: mechanism, LAST and lipid rescue, additives
  • Opioids: morphine, fentanyl, tramadol — receptor types, respiratory depression, naloxone

Antimicrobial agents — very high yield

  • Beta-lactams: penicillins, cephalosporins (generations), carbapenems, monobactams — mechanisms, resistance
  • Aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol
  • Vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, colistin; metronidazole, clindamycin

Endocrine, respiratory, and GI drugs

  • Insulin types and regimens; oral antidiabetics (metformin, SU, DPP-4i, SGLT2i, GLP-1RA)
  • Thyroid drugs: levothyroxine, carbimazole, propylthiouracil, Lugol's iodine
  • Corticosteroids: pharmacology, suppression test, side effects, withdrawal

Chemotherapy and immunomodulators

  • Chemotherapy classification: alkylating agents, antimetabolites, plant alkaloids, antibiotics
  • Targeted therapy: imatinib (BCR-ABL), trastuzumab (HER2), rituximab (CD20)
  • Immunotherapy: checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4); CAR-T overview

Miscellaneous high-yield

  • NSAIDs: COX-1 vs COX-2, GI/renal/cardiovascular effects
  • Antihistamines: H1 (sedating vs non-sedating), H2 (cimetidine drug interactions)
  • Drugs in pregnancy and lactation: teratogenic drugs (isotretinoin, valproate, warfarin, methotrexate)

Older DNB Pharmacology Question Papers

The remaining 16 papers are available in the Prep DNB app, organized paper-wise with repeat-question tracking.

Get all 18 papers in the app

Previous Year Questions for Other DNB Subjects