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CH12007: Medicinal chemistry

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Chemistry
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: EXCB 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Closed-book written examination (EXCB 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must take CH12006
Learning Outcomes: Describe key physicochemical parameters related to small molecule drugs and evaluate the potential of drug candidates; Explain key pharmacokinetic parameters that affect the bioavailability of a drug; Rationally predict likely routes of metabolism of previously unseen small molecules; Describe how enzymes and receptors may act as drug targets and outline the procedures for relevant biological assays; Compare sources of lead compounds in drug discovery and explain the process of their optimisation, scale-up and development through to their regulatory approval.


Synopsis: This unit will provide an overview of the drug discovery process from a medicinal chemistry perspective. You will cover key physicochemical characteristics of small molecule drugs and discuss the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug action. Important factors in the design and development of new drugs from target identification through to lead optimisation and candidate approval will be illustrated using case studies from the pharmaceutical industry.

Content: Physicochemical properties (e.g. pKa, lipophilicity, hydrogen bonding donor/acceptors, rotatable bonds, steric and electronics).

Lipinski's rules, Pharmacokinetics and ADME, Metabolic reactions, Drug targets (e.g. enzymes and receptors), Biological assays, Lead identification, High-throughput libraries and screening, Lead optimisation strategies, Structure-activity relationships, Clinical trials, Patents, Process chemistry, Drug administration, Drug formulation.

Course availability:

CH12007 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry
  • USCH-AFB21 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKB21 : BSc(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with study abroad (Year 1)
  • USCH-AFM21 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKM21 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with professional placement (Year 1)
  • USCH-AKM21 : MChem(Hons) Chemistry for Drug Discovery with study abroad (Year 1)

CH12007 is Optional on the following courses:

Department of Chemistry

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.