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Overview

An introduction to pharmaceutical discovery, design, manufacturing and drug action. Studies will examine the chemical properties of, and analytical techniques used in the pharmaceutical sciences and introduce how drugs act.

PSCI 201 will introduce key aspects of pharmaceutical, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry. Students will gain an understanding of drug discovery and drug function, and be introduced to important chemical groups and transformations used in the design of drugs. Fundamental chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques used for purification, analysis and characterisation of drugs will also be taught.

About this paper

Paper title Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Subject Pharmaceutical Science
EFTS 0.1500
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,318.20
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
CHEM 111 or CHEM 191
Recommended Preparation
PHSI 132 or PHSI 191
Eligibility

PSCI 201 builds on the foundations of first year chemistry, providing fundamental knowledge and skills in drug discovery and development. This paper will prepare students for 300-level papers in the BPharmSc degree and provide other students with a sound knowledge of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry that can complement BSc degrees with a chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry or biology focus.

Contact

Associate Professor Allan Gamble

Teaching staff

Paper Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Allan Gamble

Professor Natalie Hughes

Associate Professor Arlene McDowell

Associate Professor Alesha Smith

Paper Structure

PSCI 201 will be taught through lectures, laboratories and workshops/tutorials covering the following general topics:

  • Introduction to important functional groups in drugs/pharmaceutics
  • Introduction to drug action and pharmacokinetics
  • Spectroscopy used in pharmaceutical drug development and analysis
  • Purification and analysis of pharmaceutics
  • Introduction to peptide and polymer-based pharmaceutics
Textbooks

Textbooks will be available through the library. Titles to be confirmed.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the paper will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the drug discovery, design, and manufacture process.
  2. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of pharmaceutical chemistry, which includes bioorganic and medicinal chemistry and basic pharmacology.
  3. Demonstrate basic fundamental knowledge in drug delivery and nanotechnology.
  4. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of spectroscopic methods used in characterisation of small molecules and nanoparticles.
  5. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of analytical methods used to purify, identify and quantify levels of pharmaceutics and formulations.
  6. Demonstrate competent practical skills for drug synthesis, purification, characterisation and quantitative analysis in pharmaceutical science.
  7. Communicate experimental data effectively in lab reports.

Overview

An introduction to pharmaceutical discovery, design, manufacturing and drug action. Studies will examine the chemical properties of, and analytical techniques used in the pharmaceutical sciences and introduce how drugs act.

PSCI 201 will introduce key aspects of pharmaceutical, bioorganic and medicinal chemistry. Students will gain an understanding of drug discovery and drug function, and be introduced to important chemical groups and transformations used in the design of drugs. Fundamental chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques used for purification, analysis and characterisation of drugs will also be taught.

About this paper

Paper title Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Subject Pharmaceutical Science
EFTS 0.1500
Points 18 points
Teaching period Semester 1 (On campus)
Domestic Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set
International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
Prerequisite
CHEM 111 or CHEM 191
Recommended Preparation
PHSI 132 or PHSI 191
Eligibility

PSCI 201 builds on the foundations of first-year chemistry, providing fundamental knowledge and skills in drug discovery and development. This paper will prepare students for 300-level papers in the BPharmSc degree and provide other students with a sound knowledge of pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry that can complement BSc degrees with a chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry or biology focus.

Contact

Associate Professor Allan Gamble

Teaching staff

Paper Co-ordinator: Associate Professor Allan Gamble

Dr Chelsea Tyler 

Professor Arlene McDowell

Professor Alesha Smith

Professor Joel Tyndall

Paper Structure

PSCI 201 will be taught through lectures, laboratories and workshops/tutorials covering the following general topics:

  • Introduction to important functional groups in drugs/pharmaceutics
  • Introduction to pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry
  • Introduction to drug action and pharmacokinetics
  • Spectroscopy used in pharmaceutical drug development and analysis
  • Purification and analysis of pharmaceutics
  • Introduction to peptide and polymer-based pharmaceutics
Textbooks

Textbooks will be available through the library. Titles to be confirmed.

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the paper will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the drug discovery, design, and manufacture process.
  2. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of pharmaceutical chemistry, which includes bioorganic and medicinal chemistry and basic pharmacology.
  3. Demonstrate basic fundamental knowledge in drug delivery and nanotechnology.
  4. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of spectroscopic methods used in the characterisation of small molecules and nanoparticles.
  5. Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of analytical methods used to purify, identify and quantify levels of pharmaceutics and formulations.
  6. Demonstrate competent practical skills for drug synthesis, purification, characterisation and quantitative analysis in pharmaceutical science.
  7. Communicate experimental data effectively in lab reports.
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