CH2PHC2: Pharmaceutical Chemistry 1

Module code: CH2PHC2

Module provider: Chemistry; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Candyce Clark, email: c.r.clark@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr John McKendrick, email: j.e.mckendrick@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The study of medicinal chemistry is the study of the development, testing and biology of organic molecules designed to treat disease. This module acts as a gateway, in that we develop concepts from Biology and Chemistry to show how important they are in the drug design an improvement process.   Concepts and general principles relating to drug discovery and development, metallotherapeutic drugs and treatments for metal and heavy metal poisoning will be introduced. Thus, the course will include bioinorganic chemistry and aspects of pharmacology and pharmacy practice related to drug discovery, drug design and metal-based diagnostic agents. By discussing case studies for the discovery and development of metallotherapeutic drugs, this module will consolidate the students’ knowledge of the drug discovery process, and introduce new opportunities that have arisen in the post-genomic era. Through study you will begin to appreciate the skill and knowledge that chemists in this field must master as part of this vitally important career.

This module introduces the concepts and general principles relating to chemical biology. This is are large and generally ill-defined area at the interface between Chemistry and Biology. It is this interface that this module will explore as various topics in this field are explored and the Chemistry and Biology underpinning the work is explored and placed in context. This module explores work at the research end of the Pharmaceutical spectrum and as such gives a glimpse of how new  targets and ideas may be found that mark the very beginning of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient discovery and development.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Apply the basic principles of pharmaceutical chemistry such as structure-activity relationships, drug discovery, ADME properties, metabolic pathways and the Henderson-Hasselbach equation to relevant drug examples 
2. Describe the key concepts of chemical biology and bioinorganic chemistry that are relevant to pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry – such as redox systems, the role of amino acids and enzymes – and show these can be used to sole biological problems form a chemistry point of view 
3. Oultine the methods of preparation, analysis and toxicity of metallotherapeutic drugs as well as methods to circumvent and treat metal toxicit

Module content

Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry: 

A study of the pathways for absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of drugs paying particular attention to how this relates to their action at the appropriate cellular targets. Methods for studying and affecting a drug’s ADME will be examined, e.g. prodrugs, Log P etc. 

Aspects of Chemistry in Biology: 

A study of selected primary metabolic pathways of the cell with particular reference to correlation of enzymatic processes to organic chemical mechanisms. Reviewing glucose metabolism will lead to an appreciation of how Nature uses the principles of Organic and Physical chemistry in catabolic and anabolic processes. Exploration of the mechanism of action of proteases will be used to demonstrate how small molecule enzyme inhibitors are developed. 

Metals in Medicine: 

Synthesis, Analysis and Development of Metallotherapeutic drugs: The following concepts will be discussed with reference to specific classes of metallotherapeutic drugs, e.g. lithium, calcium, iron, aluminium, arsenic, silver, gold, platinum and titanium based drugs.  Introduction and Principles of Metal-based diagnostic agents: By discussing the following applications the value of metal-based diagnostic agents will be exemplified.  Identification and treatment of metal and heavy metal poisoning: Symptoms, detection, diagnosis, treatments, prevention and prognosis of poisoning by metals and heavy metals, e.g. Mercury, Thallium, Arsenic, Iron, Lead. Principle and examples of chelating agents, e.g. EDTA, DMSA, ALA, BAL. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The course content will be provided through a mixture of formal one-hour lectures, workshops and seminars. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided and facilities for computer-aided literature searching for additional relevant materials will enable students to improve their own learning skills. 

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

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

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative workshops will be held to prepare students for the assessed tutorial questions.

Reassessment

Additional costs