pubcrawl — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Search papers, drug labels, and clinical trials from an AI assistant through MCP. Useful when answers need traceable primary sources.
claude mcp add pubcrawl -e NCBI_API_KEY=<NCBI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @pharmatools/pubcrawlWhat pubcrawl does
pubcrawl connects an AI assistant to PubMed, Europe PMC, FDA and UK drug labelling, and ClinicalTrials.gov. It can search papers, retrieve structured abstracts and open-access full text, find related work, and format citations. Drug tools cover name resolution, US Prescribing Information, UK SmPC data, and side-by-side label comparison.
The server exposes 14 tools backed by source APIs, with identifiers such as PMIDs, NCT IDs, and DOIs for verification. It runs through npx, so there is no separate package installation step. An NCBI API key is optional; adding one raises PubMed request limits, which matters for repeated searches.
What it helps with
- search PubMed with date and article-type filters
- find preprints and open-access papers in Europe PMC
- compare US and UK drug labelling
- retrieve related studies and format citations
Example prompts for the agent
- Search PubMed for studies on semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes, then return the PMID and DOI.
- Compare the US and UK labels for atorvastatin and find its Phase 3 clinical trials.
- Get the structured abstract for an article by PMID and format the citation in Vancouver style.
How to install pubcrawl
Platform CLI
claude mcp add pubcrawl -e NCBI_API_KEY=<NCBI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @pharmatools/pubcrawlReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add pubcrawl --env NCBI_API_KEY=<NCBI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @pharmatools/pubcrawlReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"pubcrawl": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pharmatools/pubcrawl"
],
"env": {
"NCBI_API_KEY": "<NCBI_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"pubcrawl": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pharmatools/pubcrawl"
],
"env": {
"NCBI_API_KEY": "<NCBI_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e NCBI_API_KEY=<NCBI_API_KEY> pubcrawl npx -y @pharmatools/pubcrawlReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about pubcrawl
How do I install pubcrawl in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add pubcrawl -e NCBI_API_KEY=<NCBI_API_KEY> -- npx -y @pharmatools/pubcrawl. The NCBI key can be used to raise PubMed request limits.
What does pubcrawl do?
It gives an AI assistant access to PubMed, Europe PMC, FDA and UK drug labelling, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Its tools search literature, retrieve abstracts and full text, compare labels, and format citations.
Do I need an NCBI API key to use pubcrawl?
No. The server works without one, while a free NCBI key raises PubMed request limits.
