Design, Synthesis and Reactivity in Medicinal and Biopharmaceutical Chemistry
Course content
The course will focus on how drug molecules are designed and synthesized - from a chemical perspective. Thus, different ways of accessing pharmaceutically relevant compound classes will be investigated. Strategic considerations with respect the order of introduction of functional groups and linear/convergent approaches will be discussed and compared.
The course will be organized around specific reaction types and functional groups where the most efficient way of accessing these will be highlighted. Furthermore, consideration about the metabolic liability and possible biotransformation of different functional group will be covered to guide the design process of new drug molecules.
Specific themes that will be covered include:
- Synthesis of drugs using state-of-the-art methodologies - Enantioselective synthesis, cross coupling ractions, C-H activation, etc.
- Reactive functional groups in medicinal chemistry
- Bioorthogonal chemistry
- Biopharmaceuticals
Lectures on lead optimization and process development within the pharmaceutical industry will be given by researchers from the industry
MSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry - elective
MSc Programme in Pharmacy (Danish programme cand.pharm) - elective
MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Danish programme cand.scient.pharm) - restricted elective
MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English programme) - restricted elective
At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
Knowledge
- identify the functional groups typically encountered in drug discovery and process development and reflect upon their reactivity, chemical stability and metabolic liabillity
- explain advanced elements of selected reaction mechanisms, such as cross-coupling reactions
- summarize and critically evaluate strategies in modern organic synthesis as applied in lead optimization and process development cases in medicinal and biopharmaceutical chemistry
- describe and discuss different types metabolic reactions, the reaction mechanism and propose typical reactive hot-spots as well as expected metabolites
Skills
- master retro-synthetic strategies presented during the course
- analyze and evaluate the use of protection groups in synthesis planning
- assess and discuss biotransformation of functional groups in relation to selected drug discovery projects
- master the design and synthesis of a given drug based on a retrosynthesis analysis
- critically review and present examples from the scientific literature
Competencies
- design new drug candidates ligands where consideration about interaction with drug targets, reactivity and metabolic liability are implemented
- plan and discuss synthetic strategies for putative drug molecules relevant for early discovery
Before each session, a group of students will receive a
scientific paper from journals, e.g. J. Med. Chem. or ACS Med.
Chem. Lett. Their group task will be to read, analyze and
elaborate, critically review and present their results to their
fellow students. This will comprise a short description of the
purpose/target, the methods applied, the chemistry described and a
critical review of the efforts publish. When one group is
presenting, one other group is appointed as ‘peer group’ and will
have as a task to define and identify question for the presenting
group.
To each theme, the students will have access to 6-8 multiple choice
questions in Absalon. These questions are formulated in such a way
that the students can solve them if they have read, worked with and
understood the curriculum of the day. The Quizz with close as the
lectures start and the Quizz Report will be evaluated and discussed
in plenum with the students. The intention of these Assignment
Quizzes is multifold:
1) To ensure the students work with the curriculum before attending
the lectures
2) Reward and encourage the students professionally
3) Improve the student learning
4) Provide a live picture of the actual skill level and identify
‘easy’ and ‘difficult’ subjects.
The Quizz will be accompanied with more elaborate explanations for
correct answers and help/guidelines for false answers. The Quizz
will also be opened again as the students start preparing for the
exams.
Furthermore, the course teachers will provide an overview lecture
with focus and key learning elements in the subjects of the day.
Each lecture will terminate with a summary of the major skills and
competences acquired.
In addition, the course will also use classical problem solving and
exercises in the classroom. They serve both as student activating
initiatives and to break up lectures in pieces no longer than 20
minutes.
Reviews and original scientific papers will be available at the course homepage
Further recommended reading: Jonathan Clayden, Nick Geeves, Stuart Warren (2012) Organic Chemistry 2nd Edition; ISBN: 978-0199270293 Oxford University Press
Teaching is based on the assumption that the students have acquired knowledge, skills and competences corresponding to those obtained by completion of the first five semesters of the BSc Programme in Pharmacy.
None.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students:
Credit transfer student at SUND – University of Copenhagen (ku.dk)
Other external students:
https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/student-mobility/guest-students/
Credit transfer and other external students are welcomed on the course if there are seats available and they have the academic qualifications.
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Other, 30 min
- Type of assessment details
- For the final assessment, students are divided into groups of
three-four students.
Each group will receive a scientific paper and then have 48 hours to prepare a presentation in the form of powerpoint slides or a poster. The task will be to analyze, critically review and present the paper. The student should provide an advanced insight and details of medicinal chemistry and biopharmaceutical topics. Each student will have an individual assessment based on the presentation submitted by the group (max 10 min) followed by a discussion (max 15 min). - Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- passed/not passed
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
To pass the course the student must be able to:
Knowledge
- identify all the functional groups encountered in drug discovery and process development and reflect upon their reactivity and stability
- explain selected reaction mechanisms in detail, such as cross-coupling reactions
- summarize and critically evaluate strategies in modern organic synthesis as applied in lead optimization and process development cases in medicinal and biopharmaceutical chemistry
- describe and discuss relevant types metabolic reactions, the reaction mechanism and propose typical reactive hot-spots as well as expected metabolites
Skills
- master retro-synthetic strategies presented during the course
- analyze, evaluate and prioritize the use of protection groups in synthesis planning
- assess and discuss biotransformation of functional groups in relation to selected drug discovery projects and evaluate the relative susceptibility of different functional groups towards metabolic degradation
- critically review and present examples from the scientific literature
Competencies
- design new drug candidates ligands where consideration about reactivity and metabolic liability are implemented
- elaborate and plan in detail on synthetic strategies for putative drug molecules relevant for early discovery
Single subject courses (day)
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 24
- Preparation
- 125
- Exercises
- 40
- Exam Preparation
- 16
- Exam
- 1
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SFAK20039U
- ECTS
- 7,5 ECTS
- Programme level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedulegroup
-
A
- Capacity
- 10 students
- Studyboard
- Study Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contracting department
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
- John Nielsen (12-727770763676716d747b6d76487b7d766c36737d366c73)
Teacher
Jesper Langgaard Kristensen
John Nielsen
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