Principles of Pharmaceutical Science

Catalog description

We often take over-the-counter and prescription medications to treat various acute and chronic conditions, but how does that pill in a bottle relieve symptoms? This course will allow students to appreciate the intersection of biology and chemistry driving the science behind successful therapeutics. Why does a drug work better for some people than others? Why is taking many medications with grapefruit juice ill-advised? Students will learn the fundamentals of drug action and timing using selected FDA-approved drugs as examples in these sessions. We will discuss various drugs naturally made by bacteria and how bacteria are used to produce recombinant biologics drugs. We will cover some of the clinical aspects of antibiotic prescribing and why antibiotic resistance is a significant concern in healthcare and strategies for mitigation. Students will also learn about various analytical and bioanalytical assays used to clear a manufactured drug lot for release, for monitoring drug concentrations in patients' blood, and about tests used to determine whether a certain drug is likely to successfully treat a condition or cause adverse effects (companion diagnostics.) The interactive lectures will allow students to better understand drugs marketed to consumers and gain familiarity with the terminology used in drug development and clinical application. Students will develop their critical thinking skills by exploring a drug of their choice in scientific literature and have an opportunity to practice their communication skills through open discussion of their findings.