OVERVIEW

This course deals with an introduction to the medicinal chemistry, from the design to the commercialization of drugs. It also furnishes the basic knowledge on the main drug classes, both classic and biotechnological, focusing on drug structures, structure-activity relationship, mechanism of action and use in therapy.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide the basis of medicinal chemistry, focusing on drug design, development and synthesis, in connection with the biological target. The course also includes the main classes of therapeutic agents. Particular attention is devoted to the drugs synthesized using biotechnological methods.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The part of the course dealing with the introduction to the medicinal chemistry is aimed at giving the fundamental notions on the different steps leading from drug design to clinical trials and finally to commercialization. The part of the course dealing with specific drug classes has the objective of furnishing to the student the basis for the comprehension of structure-activity relationship of  both classic and biotechnological drugs. The laboratory exercises are aimed at giving practical knowledge on the main techniques followed during the process of drug synthesis.

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal lessons and laboratory.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department before class begins, in order to liase and arrange the specific teaching methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Introduction to medicinal chemistry. Biotechnologies for the discovery and the development of new drugs. Drug targets: receptors, enzymes, nucleic acids. Drug design strategies. General aims of pharmaceutical biotechnologies. Examples of drug classes: antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer drugs; drugs active on cholinergic and adrenergic systems; antidepressant drugs; drugs for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases; non-steroidal-antiinflammatory (NSAI) drugs; antihypertensive drugs. Application of innovative biotechnologies for the development of new drugs: polypeptide hormons (insulin, growth hormone, follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones), cytokines (interleukins, interferons, hematopoietic growth factors), blood proteins (coagulation factors VII, VIII and IX; tissue plasminogen activator); therapeutic enzymes (desoxyribonuclease, β-glucocerebrosidase, α- galattosidase). Biotechnological vaccines. Monoclonal antibodies and their application in therapy: as anticancer drugs, in reject prophylaxis, in autoimmune diseases. Targeting drug system based on the use of monoclonal antibodies.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

G.L. Patrick - Introduzione alla chimica farmaceutica. Edises.

M.L. Calabrò (2008) - Compendio di biotecnologie farmaceutiche. Edises.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CHIARA BRULLO (President)

SILVIA SCHENONE (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester, in October.

Class schedule

PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACEUTICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND LABORATORY COURSE

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of an oral examination in the presence of the two professors who have taught the course. The examination has a duration that varies on the basis of the preparation of the student, however, between 30 and 60 minutes. Four questions are asked concerning both the general part of the course, both the specific drug classes.

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ASSESSMENT METHODS

The students will demonstrate the achievement of the fundamental notions of the course, together with the capacity of connecting  the topics developed during the course. The students will also know the structures of the drug classes, their mechanism of action an therapeutic use.

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FURTHER INFORMATION

On request by the students, a partial written exam is possible during the course duration. In the case of positive result, the part of program for this partial exam, is not requested for the final oral exam.