Universität Wien
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270047 VO From Synthesis to the Science and Strategy of Medicinal Chemistry (2025W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 27 - Chemie

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

Language: English

Lecturers

    Classes

    Currently no class schedule is known.

    Information

    Aims, contents and method of the course

    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

    Assessment and permitted materials

    Students will be examined via a 2 hour exam at the completion of the course. Attendence of the six lectures is highly recommended.

    Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

    Participation in and submission of the final exam is mandatory

    Examination topics

    1. The thermodynamics of drug-target binding
    2. The importance of water
    3. Molecular interactions
    4. Medicinal chemistry rules of thumb
    5. Drug design strategies
    6. Design of drug molecules

    Reading list

    Hunter, Christopher A. "Quantifying intermolecular interactions: guidelines for the molecular recognition toolbox." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 43.40 (2004): 5310-5324.
    Bissantz, Caterina, Bernd Kuhn, and Martin Stahl. "A medicinal chemist’s guide to molecular interactions." Journal of medicinal chemistry 53.14 (2010): 5061-5084
    McConnell, Darryl B. "Biotin’s lessons in drug design." Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 64.22 (2021): 16319-16327.

    Association in the course directory

    CH-SYN-02, CH-WAHL, CH-FE, BC-WAHL, Transferable Skills

    Last modified: Fr 27.06.2025 00:02