MPS5204 · Drug discovery and development: The next step

Overview

This unit takes you on a journey into real-life drug development challenges. The unit will utilise the target product profile (TPP) as the framework for exploring and understanding the challenges of translating a potential drug discovered at “the bench” into a registered medication for clinical use. Through a range of individual and group tasks, you will combine information and frameworks provided with your own inquiry to develop a holistic approach to evaluate the key milestones required for drug development, including the consideration of such things as intellectual property and patents, ethical and sustainable practices, regulatory considerations and financial factors. Cases will focus on modern drug discovery challenges and methodologies, including drug-repurposing development pathways, and will offer you the opportunity to present and interact with genuine pharmaceutical industry drug developers. You will present your evaluations via a variety of oral and written formats. At the completion of the unit, you will have an extensive understanding of the key challenges of drug development and the purpose of a TPP, giving you a tool kit you can use to propose strategies for drug development and regulatory approval that you might encounter in your professional career.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Critically investigate the process of modern drug development utilising the target product profile as a guiding framework
2. Present a logical and nuanced understanding of the impact of ethical and sustainable practices, regulatory considerations and financial factors on the development of new pharmaceutical products
3. Evaluate and report on how contemporary technologies and approaches can be used to expedite the development of novel pharmaceutical agents for existing diseases and those of emerging importance
4. Use effective oral communication to present and defend an informed evaluation of examples of drug development
5. Demonstrate effective teamwork practices within the context of a group report.

Workload

• 24 hours of preparation for classes • 22 hours of workshops • 11 hours of applied sessions • 72 hours of independent study • 12 hours of group work

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.