Exploration of Drug Science 2025 Annual Report

Exploration of Drug Science (eISSN 2836-7677) is an open access journal dedicated to advancing cutting-edge drug science research and committed to promoting high-quality scholarship since its founding in 2023.

This year 2025 marked a period of standardized development and pivotal growth for EDS Journal. We achieved significant strides in submission volume, international engagement, citation impact, and readership reach—all while upholding rigorous editorial standards and strengthening our global academic network.These achievements are a result of the ongoing efforts of our editorial board, authors, reviewers, and readers, and they set the stage for further progress in the years to come. We extend our sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to advancing the frontiers of drug science alongside EDS.

Key Achievements in 2025

• Submissions: 156 submissions received throughout the year, representing a 39.3% increase compared to 2024.

• Publications: A total of 56 articles were published, with 28 (50%) achieving over 1,000 page views and exceeding 100 downloads.

• Citations: Published articles garnered 458 cumulative citations, with the average citations per article rising to 2.96.

• Databases: Successfully indexed by CAS in 2025.

• Editorial Board: Membership expanded to 69 scholars from 26 countries and regions, with an average H-index of 46.

• Special Issue: Launched six new special issues covering topics including drug redirection, gene medicine, and peptide science.

• Conference Collaborations: Established collaborative partnerships with two academic conferences.

• Readership Growth: Annual article views reached 225,736, with total downloads at 6,212–representing year-on-year increases of 352.5% and 271.2% respectively.

Manuscript Submissions and Publications

Volume and Types

In 2025, Exploration of Drug Science received 156 submissions, a 39.3% increase from 2024 (112 submissions). This growth reflects the journal's rising visibility and credibility within the global research community.

We published 56 articles in 2025, up from 46 in 2024, maintaining rigorous editorial standards that underscores our commitment to quality. The published content was dominated by Original Articles (37%) and Review Articles (52%), supporting both novel research dissemination and comprehensive knowledge synthesis. 

Figure 1. Annual Submission and Publication Volume (2023–2025)

Figure 2. Types of Submissions and Publications in 2025

Authors

In 2025, EDS published 56 articles, featuring corresponding authors from 27 countries and maintaining a high academic caliber with an average H-index of 21.8. Looking ahead to 2026, EDS will remain dedicated to publishing high-quality research, aiming to maintain a balanced portfolio of article types and source countries while placing increased emphasis on disseminating high-impact original studies.

Figure 3. Country Distribution of Corresponding Authors

Article Metrics

Among the 56 articles published in 2025, 28 articles achieved more than 1,000 views and 100 downloads, a notable improvement compared with only three articles in 2024 reaching similar thresholds. This sharp increase reflects improved content dissemination and growing interest in EDS publications.

Table 1. Top 3 Most Viewed Articles Published in 2025

Readership Growth

In 2025, EDS achieved remarkable growth in readership, with 225,736 article views and 6,212 downloads, representing year-on-year increases of 352.5% and 271.2% from 2024, respectively. Among the 56 articles published during the year, 28 articles each surpassed 1,000 views and 100 downloads. This growth underscores both the expanded reach of EDS content and the growing interest from the global research community.

Figure 4. Average Views and Downloads per Article (2023–2025)

Journal Impact

Database Indexing

Building on its indexing in DOAJ since 2024, EDS reached a key milestone in 2025 by being accepted for index in CAS. This achievement extends the journal's visibility to chemical and pharmaceutical researchers worldwide and reaffirms its dedication to open access and rigorous publishing standards.

Figure 5. EDS indexed in CAS

Citations Performance

As of the latest data in 2025, EDS has published a total of 137 articles and accumulated 458 citations, marking a substantial rise in its scholarly influence. The mean citation per article has increased to 2.96, up from 1.00 in 2024, highlighting the growing quality and impact of the journal's published research. Since its launch, EDS has maintained consistent growth in annual citations and average citation rates. As a journal still in its early stages, EDS is steadily building its reputation, and the sustained upward trend in citations reflects a positive developmental path, demonstrating the journal’s ongoing maturation and increasing recognition within the global research community.

Figure 6. Growth in Average Citations per Article (2023–2025)

Publication Process

Manuscript Processing Time

In 2025, EDS further optimized its editorial operations to ensure both efficiency and rigor. The journal maintained an average time to first decision of 5 days and an average submission-to-acceptance timeline of approximately 46 days, striking a careful balance between rapid handling and thorough evaluation.

Reviewers

The journal’s reviewer network expanded further in 2025, comprising 150 reviewers from 35 countries, with the average H-index of 16.7. The average number of valid comments received in the first round of peer review is 3.7. Their expert feedback has significantly enhanced the quality of submissions, strengthening the journal's academic reputation.

Figure 7. 2025 Reviewers Distribution by Countries/Regions

Editorial Board

New Editorial Board Members

In 2025, Exploration of Drug Science appointed 11 new Editorial Board members, including 7 Associate Editors and 4 Editorial Board Members, from six countries—China, the United States, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Egypt. With an average H-index of 48.7, these members bring strong academic expertise, and several actively supported the journal through Special Issue organization and manuscript contributions.

Figure 8. Newly Joined Editorial Board Members in 2025

Current Editorial Board

By the end of 2025, the EDS Editorial Board expanded to 69 members, representing an 11.3% increase from 2024 and covering 26 countries and regions worldwide. The board maintains a high academic standard with an average H-index of 46, and 20 members made active contributions during the year through editorial handling, peer review, Special Issue leadership, and conference-related activities.

Figure 9. 2025 Editorial Board Distribution by Countries/Regions

Special Issues

Newly Released Special Issues in 2025

In 2025, EDS released 6 new Special Issues, covering a range of timely topics including drug repurposing for cancer, gene-based medicine, triazine and chromone scaffolds in drug development, innovations in hepatology, and peptide science.

Table 2: Newly Released Special Issues in 2025 (Open for Submission)

Completed Special Issues in 2025

In 2025, EDS successfully completed 3 Special Issues focusing on natural products in inflammation and cancer, bioactive peptides and translational research, and innovative therapeutics in hepato-gastroenterology. Led by internationally recognized guest editors from multiple countries, these collections addressed topics spanning basic research, translational science, and clinical applications, contributing to the journal’s growing visibility and academic impact. We sincerely thank all Guest Editors for their expertise, dedication, and valuable contributions.

Figure 10. Completed Special lssues in 2025

Journal Promotion and Collaboration

Social Media

In 2025, EDS consistently engaged the global research community through outreach on key platforms, publishing over 90 posts on LinkedIn and X and growing its follower base to 6,727. Selected content was also shared via WeChat to reach Chinese-speaking readers. By disseminating a range of materials—from new articles and announcements to editorial updates and special issue highlights—the journal broadened its audience and enhanced its visibility and influence across channels.

Conference Collaborations

In 2025, EDS significantly enhanced its academic visibility by participating in two major international conferences, expanding its reach across diverse pharmaceutical research communities and strengthening its professional network. Our Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Fernando Albericio, and Associate Editor, Prof. Juergen Reichardt, played instrumental roles in these efforts by representing the journal, engaging with attendees, and promoting its mission and published content. Looking ahead to 2026, we plan to deepen such collaborative engagements by involving more editorial board members and guest editors, and by partnering with additional conferences, to further amplify the journal's presence and impact within global academic and medical communities. 

Table 3. Conference Promotion Details in 2025

Figure 11. 7th Workshop on Therapeutic Peptides for Bioapplications

Figure 12. Human Genome Meeting 2025

Conclusion & Future Outlook

The year 2025 marked a period of significant consolidation and growth for Exploration of Drug Science. The journal achieved notable progress in submissions, publications, readership, citations, and international engagement while maintaining high editorial standards.

Looking forward to 2026, EDS remains committed to advancing high-quality research and promoting cutting-edge discoveries in drug science. Our goals include further increasing submission and publication quality, enhancing the journal’s citation metrics, expanding indexing in key databases, and fostering wider international collaboration. In addition, EDS will continue to curate impactful Special Issues and strengthen reviewer engagement. With the continued support of our global network, EDS is poised to further consolidate its academic reputation and influence. The future holds immense potential for EDS, and together with our authors, reviewers, editors, and readers, we will continue to advance the frontiers of drug science and contribute meaningfully to human health and medicine.

Best regards,

EDS Editorial Office

EDS website: https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/eds

Editorial Office: edsjournal@explorationpub.com

Online Submission: https://eds.aressystem.com

Exploration of Drug Science 2025 Annual Report.pdf