The main goal of this module is to provide key insights on the chemistry of selected drug classes. This is a fundamental part of the background knowledge we aim at providing to future pharmacists and, more in general, healthcare professionals.

For each drug class, therapeutic opportunities are described in details and linked to chemical structures.

Key molecules and detailed structure-activity relationships are discussed. When relevant, the incentives and the strategies that, from first-generation molecules, led to more advanced compounds are discussed.

Part 1

• Adrenergic Drugs
• Antisecretory Drugs
• Heart Medications
  • Heart Failure Drugs
  • Antiarithmic Drugs
  • Treatment of Angina Pectoris and Ischaemic Heart Disease
• Antihypertensive Drugs
• Diuretics
• Antithrombotic Agents
• Hypolipidemic agents
• Drugs Acting on Nuclear Receptors
  • Estrogens
  • Progestinics
  • Androgens
• Treatment of Erectile Disfunction 
• Antihyperglycemic Agents

Parte 2

Introduction to Antimicrobial Agents

• Antibiotics
  • Molecules Interfering with the Biosynthesis of the Cell Wall
  • Molecules Interfering with Protein Synthesis 
• Antibacterial Chemotherapy
• Antiviral Chemotherapy
• Antiprotozoal Agents 
• Antifungal Agents

Medicinal Chemistry I

Knowledge and Understanding: starting either from the structure of a compound or from the structure and a minimal set of notions, interpret and discuss activity, structure-activty relationship, elements of bioavailability and matabolism. Develop a detailed understanding of how, within a drug class, initial prototypes evolve into more advanced drugs

Applied Knowledge and Understanding: how the aforementioned general approach applies to specific drug classes. Notable examples will be discussed in details as case studies.  

Making Judgements: master the idea that drug development implies a constant trade-off between multiple, often conflicting, instances. This element is explained resorting to case studies

Communication Skills: master the correct terminology (standard of practise- or IUPAC-compliant) to correctly address structures and SARs 

Learning Skills: ideally, by the end of the module, the student should be able to apply the notions and the methods learned to molecules that, while belonging to drug classes they are familiar with, they have never seen before.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Revision sessions will be regularly organised during the course, with particular emphasis on understanding, elaborating on and mastering structure-activity relationships.

Teaching

Frontal Lessons

Attendance

Attendance is strongly encouraged yet not mandatory

Course books

For the exam:

• Slides and course work provided

Extra/For Consultation:

• Foye, Priciples of Medicinal Chemistry (any recent edition)
• Gasco, Chimica Farmaceutica, CEA (available in Italian only, to the best of my knowledge)
• Goodman & Gilman, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (any recent edition)
• Clementi & Fumagalli, Farmacologia Generale e Molecolare, EDRA (available in Italian only, to the best of my knowledge)

Assessment

During COVID-19 Pandemic: oral exam only

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

No difference for non-attending students. Note: attendance is strongly encouraged