Fundamentals of Drug Discovery, Response and Mechanisms of Action

FUNDAMENTALS
OF
PHARMACOLOGY
4BBY1040



Drug Discovery, Response and
Mechanisms of Action

, LECTURE 1:

Differences between pharmacology, therapeutics, pharmacy and
toxicology
Pharmacology: science of drugs involved in the development and discovery of
new effective drugs, specifically through its interaction mechanisms.
Therapeutics: Medicinal use of drugs to relieve symptoms of disease. (not
all drugs = medicine)
Pharmacy: How medicines are formulated and dispensed for use as medicine.
Includes the law governing the medicinal use of drugs.
Toxicology: The branch of pharmacology that focusses on harmful effects of
chemicals or drugs


Definition and categorization of drugs
Chemical substance of know structure, other than a nutrient or a non-essential
dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism produces a
biological effect.
Drugs are endogenous molecules that block or mimic the actions of endogenous
molecules by binding to molecular targets within the body
Grouped by: Mechanis
 Therapeutic use Common Chemical Therapeutic Proprieta
m of
 Mechanism of name name use ry name
action
action
4-[2-tert- Preferenti
Named by: butylamin al effect Bronchial
Salbutam
 Chemical name o]-1- on beta 2 asthma Proventil
ol
 Common name (hydryleth adrenergic symptoms
 Proprietary name yl)-phenol receptors
1-
naphethle
Summarise the key n-1-yloxy-
mechanisms by which 3-(propan-
Sodium
drugs might produce Proprano 2-ol-
channel Anti-anxiety Inderal
their effects lol ylamine)
blockade
propan-2-
By interacting with: ol
 Receptors for hydrochlor
neurotransmitters ide
or hormones
 Enzymes
 Ion channels
 Carrier or transporter proteins