SLVKB0391U Drug Discovery and Development

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences - compulsory, MSc 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 three or four, 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
  • Knowledge of the academic disciplines and stakeholders involved in drug discovery and development
  • Gain an understanding of the positioning and importance of their own academic profile relative to industrial drug development
  • Gain an understanding of 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

  • To be able critically analyse and communicate, through written reports and oral presentations, on the drug discovery and development process of a selected marketed drug.
  • To be able to 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 2nd Edition technology in transition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Ed.: R.G. Hill and H.P. Rang. ISBN 9780702042997

Alternatively: Drug discovery and development technology in transition, Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. Ed.: H.P. Rang. ISBN-13: 978-0-443-06420-3, ISBN-10: 0-443-06420-2.

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.
•12 lectures (45-minutes)
•11 class lessons (45-minutes)
•1 class lesson as an introduction to the course and project work (45-minutes).
Åbent for gæstestuderende. Kurset er IKKE åbent for studerende, der har bestået kurset "Clinical Drug Development".
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Guidance
  • 76
  • Lectures
  • 12
  • Preparation
  • 24
  • Preparation
  • 36
  • Theory exercises
  • 18
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral defence, 15 minutes
The examination lasts 15 minutes, plus 15 minutes of preparation time. The examination is based on the prepared synopses.
Exam registration requirements

To be eligible for the examination, the student must have submitted synopses and participated in the oral presentation of the synopses.

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.