Introduction to Small Molecule Drug Discovery & Development

What does it take to advance a new drug from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside? Historically, drugs were discovered serendipitously and were usually isolated from natural sources. Today, drug discovery efforts take many years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. They also require the input of dozens of specialists from a multitude of backgrounds to ensure that therapeutic molecules are efficacious and safe. This four-week course takes a high-level tour of what it takes to research and develop a new drug. We will meet different scientists and professionals across the drug discovery value chain as we explore the different stages of discovery and development, including the different tools and technologies that are influencing how we think about new medicines today. Starting off with the needs of the patient and the early phases of drug discovery, we will cover drug metabolism, pharmacokinetics and drug safety all the way to clinical development and beyond. This course is relevant for scientists who are new to drug discovery research or already have some experience, health professionals, or anyone who is interested in knowing what had to happen to ensure that their medicine is effective and safe.