270316 VO From Synthesis to the Science and Strategy of Medicinal Chemistry (2024W)

The course aims to provide students with theoretical and practical medicinal chemistry background on the initial phase of small molecule drug discovery. At the completion of the course students will be able to critically analyze drug-target binding and design their own small molecule drug candidates. The course will cover the following topics:
1. Classes of small molecule drugs an introduction
2. Classes of drug targets an introduction
3. The thermodynamics of drug-target binding
4. The importance of water
5. Molecular interactions – up close & personal
6. Drug design strategies & medicinal chemistry rules of thumb
7. An introduction to finding hits in the vastness of chemical space
Further topics in medicinal chemistry that will not be covered in the course are (1) optimization of cellular and in vivo efficacy, (2) selectivity and toxicity, (3) drug distribution, metabolism and pharmacokinetics