The science that deals with the discovery or design of new therapeutic chemicals and the development of these chemicals into useful medicine.

Teaching Objectives:

Ability to fit a multidisciplinary team

Ability to search for novel molecules

Increased knowledge of how to synthesize molecules for focused biological testing

Understanding of the reasons for making compounds

Understanding drug design

Insight in SAR with insufficient data

Knowledge in collateral fields

Familiarity with new techniques

Course Requirements:

1. Structure-activity relationships: In this course, we will provide the student with an understanding and appreciation of the influence chemical structures have on drug action (i.e., structure-activity relationships);

2. Molecular features of drugs: To familiarize the student with molecular features of drugs relating to (a) their stability in terms of shelf life and (b) their compatibility in terms of physio-chemical and therapeutic characteristics;

3. Mechanisms of Drug Action: To render the student aware of mechanisms of drug action at the molecular level and to provide insights as to how physio-chemical properties of drugs affect their activity and/or toxicity, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion;

4. Design and Development of Drug Entities: To illustrate to the student the significance of chemical structure, physio-chemical properties, and molecular modification in the rational design and development of drug entities;

5. Drug Nomenclature: To apprise the student of drug nomenclature, including generic, proprietary, and chemical designations;

6. Therapeutic Applications: To relate drug chemistry to the principal therapeutic applications of medicinal agents;

7. Chemically Synthesis: To familiarize the student with the synthesis routes of some key drugs.

Course Contents:

1Chapter 1 Introduction

2Chapter 2 Central Nervous System Drugs

3Chapter 3 Peripheral Nervous System Drugs

4Chapter 4 Circulatory System Agents

5Chapter 5 Digestive System Agents

6Chapter 6 Antipyretic Analgesics and Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Agents

7   Case study

8Chapter 7 Anti-neoplastic Agents

9Chapter 8 Antibiotics

10Chapter 9 Chemotherapeutic Agents

11Chapter 10 Diuretics and Synthetic Hydroglycemic Drugs

12Chapter 11 Hormones

13Chapter 12 Vitamin

14Chapter 13 Drug Design and Discovery

15Review

Credits: 3.5