SLVKB0392U Drug Discovery and Development

Volume 2024/2025
Education

MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English Programme) - compulsory

MSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry - elective

Content

In order to give students insight into and an overview of the drug discovery and development process in the pharmaceutical industry, lectures and class lessons are given on the following main topics and sub-topics:

  • The Drug Discovery Phase
    • Target identification, evaluation and identification lead structures
    • Medicinal chemistry: Lead optimisation and synthesis
    • Pharmacology
  • The Drug Development Phase
    • Non-clinical safety assessment
    • Pre-formulation
    • Pharmaceutical development and Quality Systems
  • Clinical Development and post-marketing Phase
    • Clinical trials and Regulatory affairs
    • Social pharmacy and Marketing

 

Additionally, topics related to the drug discovery and development process will be addressed, such as "Information Technology in drug discovery and development", but also real life case stories, for example establishment of small biotech companies based on innovative ideas.

Lectures give students an overview of the drug discovery and development process from a pharmaceutical industrial perspective.

Class lessons allow students to discuss topics of special interest or problem areas in drug development with scientists from Pharma School or the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other students. Since students will have earned their bachelor degrees in various fields, the class lessons will also give them the opportunity to train their ability to communicate in an interdisciplinary environment. Students work on a project in conjunction with the lectures and class lessons on the topics listed above.

In groups of four or five, students carry out a project under the guidance of a Pharma School-based scientist. The objective for the students is to reflect on the elements of drug discovery and development of a registered drug. The students carry out literature searches and write reports reflecting the three main topics related to the drug discovery and development of the drug in question.

Learning Outcome

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the various phases involved in the drug discovery and development process, as well as to give them an overview and a solid understanding of the dynamics and interdisciplinary nature of this process. Thereby this course may offer guidance for the student’s choice of study Track. The course is built around a project that the students work on, in groups, for the entire duration of the course. Information needed for the project is found in the course materials.

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

Knowledge

  • gain an overview of drug discovery and development in an industrial perspective
  • Know the academic disciplines and stakeholders involved in drug discovery and development
  • understand the positioning and importance of their own academic profile relative to industrial drug development
  • understand the multi-disciplinary nature of the pharmaceutical industry

 

Skills

At the end of the course, students should have a solid overview of the academic disciplines, interdisciplinary nature and dynamics of drug development. More specifically, the student should be able to:

  • understand  the basic academic disciplines involved in drug discovery and development and be able to use the basic technical terms used in drug discovery and development.
  • identify critical parameters in industrial drug development.
  • critically analyze and report about the drug discovery and development process of marketed drugs
  • cooperate and communicate in an international and multi-disciplinary group.

 

Competencies

  • critically analyse and communicate, through written reports and oral presentations, on the drug discovery and development process of a selected marketed drug.
  • identify their own strength and professional role in relation to the multi-disciplinary nature of the drug discovery and development process, and make a qualified choice towards the study Track of their continued study.

Drug Discovery and Development 3rd Edition Technology inTransition, Elsevier. Ed.: R.G. Hill and D. B. Richards. ISBN: 9780702078040

Alternatively: Drug Discovery and Development 2nd Edition Technology inTransition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Ed.: R.G. Hill and H.P. Rang. ISBN 9780702042997

None.
Course teaching is based on the assumption that students have completed a bachelor’s degree in the natural, health or technical sciences, or a corresponding qualification at bachelor’s level.
The course will consist of 27 general lectures that cover the curriculum and are in placed according to the three reports, that the students write and hand in during the course. 1 lecture will be given as an introduction to the course and project work. During group work the students will have access to guidance totaling 6h per group. They also get a significant review of how to write scientific texts during a workshop (2 h). The reports will be read and commented on at group meetings with their supervisor. All groups (typically consisting of 5 students) present their report work twice during the course, and thereby receive questions from the supervisors and the other students.
The course is NOT available to students WHO have passed the course "Clinical Drug Development".
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 30
  • Class Instruction
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 119
  • Guidance
  • 6
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 207
Written
Oral
Collective
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester
Feedback by final exam (In addition to the grade)
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence, 15 minutes
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
The examination lasts 15 minutes, plus 15 minutes of preparation time. The examination is based on the submitted synopses and the oral presentations made by the students covering the whole drug discovery and development process.
Students enrolled in the course cannot participate in their fellow students’ individual oral exam unless they have already had their own individual oral exam
Aid
Written aids allowed

Including own notes from exam preparation

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • demonstrate an overview of drug discovery and development in an industrial perspective
  • understand the academic disciplines and stakeholders involved in drug discovery and development
  • demonstrate an understanding of the positioning and importance of their own academic profile relative to industrial drug development
  • refere the multi-disciplinary nature of the pharmaceutical industry

 

Skills

  • understand the basic academic disciplines involved in drug discovery and development and be able to use the basic technical terms used in drug discovery and development.
  • identify critical parameters in industrial drug development.
  • critically analyze and report about the drug discovery and development process of marketed drugs
  • cooperate and communicate in an international and multi-disciplinary group.

 

Competencies

  • critically analyse and communicate, through written reports and oral presentations, on the drug discovery and development process of a selected marketed drug.
  • identify their own strength and professional role in relation to the multi-disciplinary nature of the drug discovery and development process, and make a qualified choice towards the study Track of their continued study.