535-0300-00L  Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Actions and Targets

SemesterAutumn Semester 2017
LecturersV. I. Otto, J. Scheuermann
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionGerman
CommentNumber of participants limited to 24.



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
535-0300-00 VMolecular Mechanisms of Drug Actions and Targets1 hrs
Tue/114:45-16:30HPT C 103 »
V. I. Otto, J. Scheuermann

Catalogue data

AbstractOn average one drug per year is withdrawn from the market. Using selected examples of such drug failures, the course aims at analyzing and discussing the present explanations of drug actions as well as the design and predictive power of animal models and clinical trials. In addition, the ethical, societal, and economical expectations in new drugs shall be reflected and discussed.
ObjectiveTo develop a critical understanding of the relevance and limitations of the current approaches to explaining and anticipating drug effects. To critically appraise the ethical, societal, economical and political expectations in the development of new drugs.
ContentIn December 2006, Pfizer stopped a large phase III study on the use of Torcetrapib for the prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. 800 million $ in development costs and 21 billion $ in stocks were annihilated overnight. The failure of Torcetrapib has pinpointed the limitations of an extremely reductionist view of atherosclerosis and it's prevention by drug therapy. It has also highlighted what high expectations we have in a safe and wide applicability of drugs and of their economical success.
Torcetrapib is not a single case. In the last 10 years, on average one drug per year was withdrawn from the market due to lack of efficacy, unexpected side effects or toxicity. This clearly shows that the common investigations and the modern understanding of drug actions are often not sufficient to predict the effects a drug will have in large patient populations.
These are the topics of the present course. Using three particularly informative examples of drug failures, the problems encountered and the concepts and informative value of preclinical and clinical studies will be analyzed and discussed. Furthermore, the ethical, societal, economical and political expectations in new drugs shall be reflected.
Lecture notesPrintouts of the slides used for the lectures and literature for reading and discussions will be available online.
LiteratureRecommended reading: John Abramson, Overdo$ed America, Harper Perennial, New York 2008
Prerequisites / NoticeRequirements: basic knowledge in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology. Ability to read and understand scientific publications written in English.

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits2 credits
ExaminersV. I. Otto, J. Scheuermann
Typegraded semester performance
Language of examinationGerman
RepetitionRepetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Additional information on mode of examinationEine These oder Frage zu den im Kurs besprochenen Themen muss in Form eines Essays (1-2 A4-Seiten in Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch oder Italienisch) diskutiert werden. Der Essay wird korrigiert und benotet.

An einem späteren, zwischen Studierenden und Dozentin zu vereinbarenden Termin werden die Inhalte der Essays besprochen und die wichtigsten Erkenntnisse aus dem Kurs zusammengefasst.

Learning materials

No public learning materials available.
Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

No information on groups available.

Restrictions

Places24 at the most
Waiting listuntil 18.09.2017

Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Medicinal and Industrial Pharmaceutical Sciences MasterCompensatory CoursesWInformation
Pharmaceutical Sciences MasterElectives IWInformation
Pharmaceutical Sciences BachelorCompensatory CoursesWInformation
Pharmacy MasterElectivesWInformation