Drug Design and Discovery

Course objectives

To provide state of the art knowledge of the medicinal chemistry research achievements, in particular within specific CNS topics, in addition to knowledge of the methods used in drug design and discovery.

General contents and topics

The introduction of new techniques in basic biological research has accelerated the disclosure of the complex mechanisms underlying cell function. Thus e.g. genetic technologies have revolutionised enzyme, receptor and ion channel research, and have made detailed mapping of subtypes of these biomolecules possible. On the basis of molecular cloning approaches, virtually all enzymes and receptors have been shown to represent families of structurally related isoforms and subtypes.

These aspects hold major therapeutic prospects and obvious challenges for medicinal chemists involved in design and synthesis of specific enzyme inhibitors and receptor ligands. Computational methods are playing a key role in structure-activity analyses, in the rapidly expanding area of structure-based drug design, and in the attempts to indirectly map out the topography of recognition sites.

A number of natural compounds and toxins have been used for the exploration of biological macromolecules. By means of advanced synthetic, stereochemical, and enzymatic techniques it has been possible to convert non-specific natural products into compounds with specific actions at key biomechanisms. There is a growing interest in combinatorial approaches in areas of drug research where naturally occurring lead compounds have not yet been identified, or where endogenous ligands are not appropriate leads for the design of novel therapeutic agents. Thus, combinatorial approaches are likely to be useful in the field of nonpeptide analogues of peptide hormones and transmitters.

The development of specific experimental tools may represent the initial steps in the conversion of bioactive compounds into therapeutic agents. Rational and systematic approaches along these lines are likely to lead to the development of novel classes of drugs against diseases which, so far, have escaped effective treatment.

• Receptors: Mechanisms and Structure-Function
• Enzymes: Mechanisms and Structure-Function
• Structure-Based Drug Design
• Bioisosteric Approaches in Drug Design
• Computational Approaches in Drug Design
• Peptidomimetic Design
• Natural products as Leads in Drug Design
• Combinatorial Approaches in Lead Identification
• Rapid Throughput Screening in Drug Discovery
• Lead Optimisation

General information

The 5-day course will comprise 18 to 20 lectures. Each lecture will be followed by extensive discussions.

Duration

4 to 8 March 2002.

Course weight

0.083 STÅ (STÅ = student full-time equivalent) = 4.98 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System).

Course director

Drs. Kim Andersen, Klaus Gundertofte and Ejner Moltzen, H. Lundbeck A/S and Associate Professor Flemming Steen Jørgensen, Department of Medicinal Chemistry at The Royal Danish School of Pharmacy.

Course fee

Total: DKK 5,600 (including lunch),
of which operating costs amount to: DKK 700.
An additional amount for study materials: DKK 500.

Closing date for application

1 February 2002.

Course capacity

25 participants.

N.B.

The participants are expected to have completed undergraduate or postgraduate courses in biology/pharmacology and chemistry/physical chemistry. The balance between different aspects in the previous training may vary considerably. While it should be possible for pure chemists to accomplish this lecture course satisfactorily, participants without basic training in chemistry will normally be unable to attend.

Study materials: Collection of up-to-date review articles, perhaps supplemented by original publications.