module specification

CY6063 - Medicinal Chemistry (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Medicinal Chemistry
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 15
School School of Human Sciences
Total study hours 150
 
20 hours Placement / study abroad
94 hours Guided independent study
36 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Coursework 50%   Practical report written in the style of an extended proforma (2000 words).
Unseen Examination 50%   Unseen examination (1.5 hours)
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Thursday Morning

Module summary

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.

This module will enable students to develop an understanding of the various strategies used in drug design and the molecular mechanisms by which drugs act in the body.

The module aims to: deepen students’ awareness of the major influence chemistry has had on the treatment of various diseases and debilitating conditions; enable students to assess critically the methodologies and strategies that govern whether or not a synthetic compound (i.e. new chemical entity, NCE) may be regarded as a good drug candidate.

Prior learning requirements

CY5008

Syllabus

A brief survey of the history of medicinal chemistry from its origins in the use of natural products to molecules derived from computer-assisted design techniques. Use of data derived from approaches such as Hammet  and , QSAR/Hansch analysis, X-ray crystallography and computer modelling/bioinformatics, to determine whether a bioactive molecule may be a good lead candidate for clinical development. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4

Examination of the individual steps needed to be taken, from the discovery of a potential new drug, to its approval and marketing. Themes such as: rational drug design (e.g. ‘Lipinski’s rule of 5’), targeted synthesis, early biological evaluation (e.g. pharmacokinetics), identification of structural leads and lead optimisation progressing to the identification of a clinically viable drug candidate, combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening in drug discovery are examined. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4

A number of drugs are chosen to exemplify their synthesis, mode of action and clinical impact. These include areas such as: centrally acting drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics. Special emphasis is also given to: anti-malarial agents such as artemisinin and its analogues, the anti-cancer drug Taxol and its Taxoid analogues, GPCR inhibitors such as the H2 histamine antagonists Cimetidine and Ranitidine for use in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease (PUD), HIV-reverse transcriptase inhibitors and anti-thrombotic peptidomimetics for use in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. LO1,LO2,LO3,LO4

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

Teaching and learning is based on lectures, tutorials and laboratory-based practical sessions. Lectures are used to set in context and deliver many aspects of the syllabus (16 hours). Other aspects are delivered through tutorials (incorporating guided study problems requiring formally presented solutions, 8 hours) and practical work (12 hours). Laboratory practical work also emphasises the importance of GLP and GMP in drug development. Pre-laboratory assignments are designed to help students prepare to work efficiently and safely in the laboratory.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the chemical synthesis, pharmacological action and clinical properties of drugs;
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of pre-clinical and clinical development of a drug, and the criteria of assessment that are used to allow progression of a ‘safe’ drug into the market place;
3. Understand that as a result of incidents such as the ‘Thalidomide tragedy’, and the ‘VioxxTM perturbation’, the reasons why GLP, GMP and GCP govern the regulatory framework in which new drug candidates are developed for clinical use;
4. Survey the current literature in a given field, investigate current drug developments in this field and suggest possible future developments.

Bibliography

Core Text: Patrick, G. L. (2017) An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry, 6th Edition, OUP.

Other Texts: Patrick, G. L. (2015) An Introduction to Drug Synthesis, OUP.
Barber, J., Rostron, C. (2013) Pharmaceutical Chemistry, OUP.
Denton, P., Rostron, C. (2013) Pharmaceutics, OUP.
Davis, A., Ward, S. E. (2015) The Handbook of Medicinal Chemistry. RSC.

Journals: Students will be referred to specific papers in the peer reviewed literature.

Websites: Specific links to websites will given on Weblearn.