PM2PCOL2-Drug Design and Delivery

Module Provider: Pharmacy
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites: PM1PCOL1 Principles of Drug Action and
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites: PM2PCOL1 Molecular Drug Targets
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: James Hall
Email: james.hall@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module takes the student through the journey of drug discovery, drug action, design of medicines and patient-centred care. The module looks at how chemical structure impacts on activity and on medicine stability. Drug design and discovery is discussed for both synthetic and biological drugs, including natural products. Students are taught about the safe handling of materials, including aseptic preparations and quality assurance. Analytical science skills, initially introduced in Part 1, are developed further to introduce more advanced analytical methods and their use in drug discovery and quality control processes. Students will apply pharmacology knowledge and skills to address questions and solve pharmacological problems. To this, students will also develop knowledge and abilities on both theoretical and practical use of in vivo, ex-vivo and in vitro techniques using simulated and hand-on experimentation. Students will gain experience on the use of quantitative methods to collect, process, analyse and present the research findings and also report writing. skills and knowledge developed here are essential to undertake practical and workshop exercises in later modules, including the Research Project. 

Aims:

This module introduces students to important pharmaceutical science aspects of drug design, formulation, delivery and analysis. Students will consider molecular features and physicochemical concepts that affect the activity and stability of drugs, as well as pharmaceutical science methods of importance for assuring and controlling the quality of drugs as medicines. In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches that are used within drug development will also be introduced and exemplified. Important pharmaceutical science and pharmacology concepts will be illustrated using selected drug examples for some disease states taught in Part 1 and 2. The module will also develop critical analysis, report writing and data analysis skills.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate how pharmaceutical science and pharmacology concepts are applied in the design and development of drugs and medicines, for example by considering case studies in the area of drug discovery


• Apply a variety of pharmaceutical principles and analytical methods within the context of drug design and delivery


• Demonstrate pharmaceutical calculation skills, for example with respect to formulation and pharmacokinetic studies


• Critically evaluate and use appropriate resources for experimental design, planning, data analysis and interpretation, for example for data related to the characterisation (both chemical and pharmacological) of drugs

Additional outcomes:

• Apply pharmaceutical science and pharmacology knowledge to solve problems in workshops and practical sessions


• Use computer-aided learning packages to manage, analyse and present practical data and pharmacological concepts


• Effectively communicate in written form or orally the details of their own or other researchers’ findings.


• Demonstrate the ability to work successfully in a group environment to achieve shared goals and to improve team-working skills


• Critically analyse scientific data and reports


• Improve self-directed learning

Outline content:

• Introduction to the module: The roles of chemistry and pharmaceutical science within the context of the design of medicines


• Physicochemical concepts underpinning drug design and formulation, to include discussions of solubility, pKa, binding interactions, log P and desirable physicochemical features of drugs


• An introduction to drug discovery approaches covering ‘me-too’ compounds, screening of natural products, emphasizing the difference between a single chemical entity (drug) of natural origin and a plant extract (herbal medicine) and its influence on therapeutic activity


• Pharmaceutical analysis methods, with a focus on ensuring the quality of drugs, for example with reference to pharmacopoeia resources


• The role of synthesis, combinatorial methods, high throughput screening, and molecular modelling/computational design for optimising properties of drugs


• An overview of the diversity of molecular structures that are used as pharmacological agents with reference to drugs and drug classes introduced in this and other Part 1 and 2 modules


• Formulation of drugs and routes of administration, with a focus on i) pharmaceutical materials and the use of excipients and polymers in medicine formulation, and ii) pharmacokinetic studies.


• Mode of Action at the Molecular Level: This will include a discussion of the mode of action of selected drugs as seen from the point of view of the medicinal chemist and the pharmacologist

• Case studies in drug design and drug development to market: Using appropriate examples that link with drugs and drug classes discussed in this and other Part 1 and 2 modules

• Planning and designing pharmacological studies using both in vitro and in vivo approaches for drug discovery, the development of new medicines and treatments, and testing the safety of new medicines and treatments


• Carrying out laboratory procedures using in vitro or ex vivo approaches

• Critical analysis of relevant scientific literature

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Teaching and learning methods are through lectures, tutorials/workshops, supervised time in group work, practical classes and directed private study. Practical classes associated with the module will reinforce fundamental concepts of pharmaceutical science and pharmacology that underpin drug design and delivery.

Supplementary information and reading lists will be provided by the lecturers and the available facilities for computer-aided literature searching for related mate rial will enable students to improve independent-learning skills.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	20	14
Tutorials	2	2	2
Practicals classes and workshops	8	10
Supervised time in studio/workshop		5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	5	5	10
Wider reading (directed)	5	5
Exam revision/preparation	10	10	12
Advance preparation for classes	5	5
Preparation for tutorials	5	5
Preparation for presentations		10
Preparation of practical report		10
Completion of formative assessment tasks	5	5
Essay preparation	10
Reflection	5	5	5
Total hours by term	80	91	29
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	60
Written assignment including essay	10
Report	20
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

A 2-hour end of module written examination.

The examination for this module will require a narrowly defined time window and is likely to be held in a dedicated exam venue.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Critical analysis article of a relevant paper/set exercise, and poster presentation from drug design activity, and Practical/lab report

Formative assessment methods:

Formative assessment is provided through small group tutorials/workshops, instructor-, self-, and peer-led assessment and feedback. Worked examples and case studies encountered in tutorials/workshops will provide the opportunity for formative feedback from staff and peers as well as self-reflection.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

An overall module mark of 40% will be required

Reassessment arrangements:

Reassessment of coursework will be by resubmission of coursework or submission of equivalent pieces of work, as appropriate.  Reassessment of departmentally and university administered examinations will be by written examination, as appropriate.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Cost	Amount
Required text books	A wide variety of text books is available from the University library.  Students are not expected to purchase additional texts for this module
Specialist equipment or materials
Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear
Printing and binding	There may be some printing costs linked to coursework – final submission will be electronic
Computers and devices with a particular specification
Travel, accommodation and subsistence

Last updated: 8 September 2023