FHEQ level 6 CH30209 Blockbuster Drugs Sem 1 Coursework Brief 2024 -25

Learning Outcomes:

After taking this course the student should be able to understand:

• How different types of drugs that target different therapeutic areas were discovered and the combination of factors that combined to make them market leaders;
• Why major pharmaceutical companies target certain therapeutic areas, and the opportunities available to small biopharma companies/academia for the development of novel treatments for less profitable/rarer diseases;
• Appreciate the range of emerging techniques, scientific breakthroughs and economic factors that define the future of drug discovery;
• Understand how financial, legal, logistical, marketing and political decisions affect the drug discovery process;
• Participate in a virtual drug discovery exercise that simulates the trials and tribulations that are encountered in bringing a novel drug candidate to market.

Aims: A number of major blockbuster drugs that are currently on the market will be discussed, gaining knowledge on how they were discovered, the problems that were faced in bringing them to market and the reasons why they are so successful.

Skills: Numeracy (F, A), Problem solving (T, F A), Scientific writing (F, A), Independent working (F), Group working (F).