A side-by-side look at the Clinicaltrialsgov MCP Server and Pubchem MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Clinicaltrialsgov MCP Server for biology & bioinformatics work as a local process; choose Pubchem MCP Server for biology & bioinformatics as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
clinicaltrials_search_studies, clinicaltrials_get_study_record, clinicaltrials_get_study_count.pubchem_search_compounds, pubchem_get_compound_details, pubchem_get_compound_image.Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Biology & Bioinformatics | Biology & Bioinformatics |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 99 | 10 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | 10 |
| Full listing | View Clinicaltrialsgov MCP Server | View Pubchem MCP Server |
clinicaltrials_search_studiesSearch studies with full-text and field-specific queries, status/phase/geographic filters, pagination, sorting, and field selectionclinicaltrials_get_study_recordFetch a single study by NCT ID — full protocol record with optional location/outcome/reference capsclinicaltrials_get_study_countFast total study count for a query, without fetching dataclinicaltrials_get_field_valuesDiscover valid values for API fields, with per-value study countsclinicaltrials_get_field_definitionsResolve valid field names — keyword search, path drill-down, or top-level overviewclinicaltrials_get_study_resultsFetch posted results — outcomes, adverse events, participant flow, baseline — for completed studiesclinicaltrials_find_eligibleMatch patient demographics and conditions to candidate recruiting trials, without checking inclusion/exclusion criteriapubchem_search_compoundsSearch for compounds by name, SMILES, InChIKey, formula, substructure, superstructure, or 2D similarity, or list the compounds a bioassay found active.pubchem_get_compound_detailsGet physicochemical properties, descriptions, synonyms, drug-likeness, and classification for compounds by CID.pubchem_get_compound_imageFetch a 2D structure diagram (PNG) for a compound by CID.pubchem_get_compound_3d_structureFetch a 3D conformer (atomic coordinates and bonds) for a compound by CID, as parsed JSON or raw SDF.pubchem_get_compound_xrefsGet external database cross-references (PubMed, patents, genes, proteins, etc.).pubchem_get_compound_safetyGet GHS hazard classification and safety data for one or more compounds by CID (batch).pubchem_get_bioactivityGet a compound's bioactivity profile: assay results, targets, and activity values; filter by outcome or molecular target.pubchem_get_compound_interactionsGet drug-drug, drug-food, and chemical-target interactions for a compound by CID.pubchem_search_assaysFind bioassays by biological target (gene symbol, protein, Gene ID, UniProt accession).pubchem_get_summaryGet summaries for PubChem entities: assays, genes, proteins, taxonomy.Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
{
"mcpServers": {
"clinicaltrialsgov-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"clinicaltrialsgov-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
{
"mcpServers": {
"pubchem-mcp-server": {
"command": "bunx",
"args": [
"@cyanheads/pubchem-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}