78805 - Drug Science

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has skills on the fundamental principles that govern drug development. In particular, the student will be able to: - plan projects for the development of an innovative drug, for an important pathology, for a global market; - perform a comparative assessment between public expenditure and potential benefits of drug treatments.

Course contents

A drug is born: research and development process

Preclinical experimentation, drug discovery

Tools: general information on in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo and in silico systems

Preclinical pharmacokinetics, from animal to man

Experimental models in preclinical

Safety pharmacology

"Security" studies

Clinical trial

Registration dossier and leaflet

Marketing authorization procedures

Pharmacovigilance

Examples of drug development (conventional, biological, anti-cancer)

Notes on some classes of drugs:

Drugs used in dyslipidemias

Antiobesity drugs

Anticoagulant drugs

Anti-gout medications

Thyroid and antithyroid drugs

Anti-diabetic drugs

Oral contraceptives

Sedative-hypnotic and antidepressant drugs

Antihypertensive drugs and used in heart failure

Drugs used for reflux and gastric ulcer

Drugs and intestinal motility

Drug interactions: pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions

Effect of nutrition on the action of drugs: modification of absorption, metabolism and elimination of drugs by the diet; influence of drugs on nutrient absorption.

Effect of drugs on nutritional status: drugs that interfere with taste perception; drugs that modulate hunger and satiety; weight gain as a side effect of medications.

Practical support. Sources of documentation. Consultation databases and websites on clinical trials. Database and websites available for information and updates on the pharmacological and pharmacotherapeutic profile of drug interactions.

Readings/Bibliography

Farmacologia Generale e Clinica. B.G. Katzung, VII Ed. Italiana, Casa Editrice Piccin ~ Nuova.

Farmacologia e tossicologia sperimentale. P. Dolara. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna.

Elementi di Tossicologia. Casaret & Doull. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, Milano, ed. 2013.

Teaching methods

Face-to face or virtual lectures in Italian.The course is divided into lectures, seminar activities and discussion.

Assessment methods

The exam consists in an oral face-to-face or virtual test (30 minutes). The test aims to verify the knowledge of the subject matured by the student who, together with his critical capacity, will determine positive evaluations. The lack of orientation within the topics covered during the course, training gaps and inappropriate language will result in negative evaluations. The mark obtained will be used, in agreement with the Hygiene teaching, for the calculation of the weighted average which will constitute the final mark of the Integrated Course.

Teaching tools

The educational material presented in class will be made available for the students in electronic format, on http://virtuale.unibo.it. Username and password are reserved for students enrolled at the University of Bologna.

Office hours

See the website of Donatella Canistro