Introduction to Drug Hunting

This course introduces and summarizes the different steps of preclinical drug discovery, wrapping up with a brief description of the subsequent clinical trials and the importance of competitive intelligence in project strategy.  It provides a high-level overview for those interested in a more general understanding of the topic and forms the foundation for a more in-depth exploration of topics covered in other courses in this series. Target audience: This course is suitable for life scientists, clinicians, and individuals from fields that support drug discovery (e.g., patents, finance, licensing, etc.) interested in learning more about the pharmaceutical/biotechnology sector. Advanced undergraduate coursework or practical familiarity/working knowledge in biological sciences and organic chemistry is recommended.

• Introduction to Drug Hunting, part 1
• Welcome to the course. By the end of this course students will be able to: Describe at a general level the process of drug discovery and development. Explain how potential drug targets and molecules are identified and evaluated, including the importance of biological activity, pharmacokinetics, and safety. Recognize some of the potential preclinical and clinical hurdles a new drug candidate must overcome.
• Introduction to Drug Hunting, part 2
• Introduction to Drug Hunting, part 3