Learning outcomes

Students will be able:

  • to design an experimental study to identify therapeutic targets
  • to identify lead compounds
  • to characterize pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of lead compounds
  • to assess in vitro and in vivo toxicity of lead compounds
  • to apply critical thinking and analytical skills to interpret data sets

Goals

This course provides a comprehensive overview of preclinical drug development process. Each stage of the process is developed in-depth and presented according to the current EMA (European Medicines Agency) legislation.

Content

  1. General Introduction: Drug Business- concepts & metrics
  2. Identification of Drug Targets
  3. Drug Discovery
  4. Preclinical Drug Development
  5. Pharmacokinetics
  6. Pharmacodynamics
  7. In vitro toxicology
  8. In vivo toxicology
  9. Reproductive and developmental toxicity

Exercices

Practicals

  1. Introduction : theory, how to write a good report, utilization of a bibliography management software, cell culture reminders, exercises, …
  2. Genotoxicity : Ames test
  3. Cytotoxicity: MTT assay – test of different compounds on cancerous cells, determination of the IC50.
  4. Hepatotoxicity: steatosis evaluation after treatment

 

Assessment method

Oral exam: /16

Practicals: /4 including (1) Entry test before each session, and (2) reports submitted by group of two, one week after the practical.

The exact modalities of the evaluation are likely to be modified during the preparation of the examination schedules, depending on the practical constraints with which the faculty administration may be confronted, or in the event of illness / force majeure / encroachment with an internship, or because of the health situation related to the coronavirus.

Sources, references and any support material

PowerPoint presentations, textbook of practicals, research and review articles.

Language of instruction

Français