Pharmacology Graduation Exam And
100% Actual Detailed Answers 2025-
2026 Edition.
Understand the mechanism of spironolactone. - Answer Aldosterone antagonist, prevents Na+
retention in CD. Increase K+ plasma conc,
Used in hyperaldosteronism, increased risk of hyperkalemia with antihypertension drugs
Understand the different methods for identifying lead compounds. - Answer Lead compounds
are from natural products, chemical banks, or rational drug design. Molecular docking used to
design the drug
Understand the classification of controlled substances. - Answer Schedule I - (HIGH) (no
medical use) Heroin, LSD, Weed
Schedule II - (HIGH) (written rx, no refill) Morphine, amphetamine, high dose Codeine
Schedule III - (MODERATE) (5 refill, 6 month) Ketamine, low dose codeine
Schedule IV - (LOW) (5 refill, 6 month) Benzodiazepines
Schedule V - (LOWEST) (not typically abused) Diphenoxylate
Understand the fundamentals of T0-T4 translational research. - Answer T0 - (BASIC RESEARCH)
Knowledge about defining mechanisms, targets or lead molecules
T1 - (TRANSLATION TO HUMANS) Methods of Dx, Tx, Prevention (phase 1)
T2 - (TRANSLATION TO PATIENTS) Efficacy of interventions in optimal settings (Phase 2 & 3)
T3 - (TRANSLATION TO PRACTICE) How interventions work in real world application (Phase 4)
T4 - (TRANSLATION TO COMMUNITY) Research results in improved global health
Understand classes of medical devices. - Answer Class I - least reg.: Bandaid, exam gloves
Class II - Gen. control w/ special controls: Acupuncture neddles, powered wheelchair, infusion
pump, surgical drapes
Class III - Above + req. pre-market approval Support or sustain life: pacemaker, defibrillators
Understand the data collected in phase I trials. - Answer Maximum-tolerated dose/minimum
,Understand types of preclinical cancer models. - Answer Ectopic xenograft
-ectopic implantation of cell/tissue (s.c., i.v., i.p.)
Orthotopic models
-implantation of cell line into organ of origin
Germ-line and conditional transgenic
-spontaneous or autochthonous development
Primary human tumor graft (PDX:patient-derived xenograft)
- direct implantation of freshly excised tumor
Carcinogen/tumor promotor
-development in response to carcinogen/tumor
promoting agent
Understand the purpose and intent of phase 0 clinical trials. - Answer Provide a yes/no
decision early in drug dev.
Few, small doses
Understand the objectives and characteristics of phase II clinical trials. - Answer Prelim data on
efficacy and further safety
Small # subjects
Short duration
Short-term safety
Small PT population
Understand the different clinical trial design methodologies. - Answer 1.Parallel Trial Design
Parallel study in which groups A and B receive only one type of treatment that differs from the
other groups
2.Factorial Trial Design
Describes a clinical study in which groups of participants receive one of several combinations of
interventions
- Two-by-two factorial design involves four groups of participants. Each group receives one of
the following pairs of interventions:
1) drug A and drug B,
, - During the trial, all possible combinations of the two drugs (A and B) and placebos are given to
different groups of participants.
Cross-over trial design
In a crossover design, each participant is randomized to a sequence of treatments that will be
sequentially administered during treatment periods although the objective remains a
comparison of treatments
Non-inferiority trial (i.e., similar efficacy as existing therapy, but with better safety profile or
pharmacokinetics)
Understand the different types of drug targets and their prevalence among approved drugs. -
Answer Receptors - 45%
Enzymes - 28%
Hormones & Factors - 11%
Ion Channels - 5%
DNA - 4%
Unknown - 7%
Understand the various types of agonists and antagonists. - Answer Full agonist - Reaches
max. response
Partial agonist - Produces an effect but incapable of producing 100% effect
Competitive antagonist - reversible
Non-competitive antagonist - allosteric and irreversible
Inverse agonist - Produces opposite effect of agonist and supresses spontaneous receptor
signaling
Understand the concept of "therapeutic index." - Answer ED50 - Dose at 50% people have
therapeutic effect
TD50 - Dose at 50% people have toxicity
Therapeutic index = TD50/ED50
Understand factors that influence the membrane permeability of drugs. - Answer Smaller
drugs absorbed faster
Lipophilicity increases absorption
Neutral drugs absorbed more than ionized drugs