Master Program in Molecular Biotechnology

Pharmacological Biotechnology

Pharmacological Biotechnology

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The main objective of this module is to offer the students the opportunity of understanding the principles that regulate the action of drugs obtained by biotechnology processing focusing mainly on their mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetic properties and efficacy/safety profiles. The main perspective and criticisms on the therapeutic use and safety of biotechnology-derived drugs will be discussed.  

Preclinical models for testing of biotechnology-derived drugs will be described, focusing mainly on state-of-the-art pharmacological approaches for DNA editing and in-vitro and in-vivo models for treatment of CNS diseases.

Results of learning outcomes

At the end of the course the students will be able to understand how biotechnological drugs affect the organism

The students will acquire information regarding the understanding and interpretation of the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic evaluation criteria for biotechnological drugs as well as the risk / benefit issues related to the use of biotechnological medicines. The students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to the identification and preclinical development of novel pharmacological targets, biodrugs and advanced cell therapies.

Specifically, the learning outcomes will be:

Knowledge and understanding ability
the Student will be able to learn and understand the topics of the pharmacology program

Applying knowledge and understanding
the Student will be able to apply the knowledge and to understand pharmacology with basic and applied research purposes

Independent Judgement
the Student will be able to develop a good judgment and analysis autonomy on pharmacological problems

Communication skills
the Student will be able to develop good communication skills and suitable language properties in the didactic field

Learning skills
the Student will be able to develop functional organizational and learning skills in future institutional settings (PhD)

Program

Classification of biotechnological drugs:

• Proteins
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Antisense oligonucleotides
•  

Innovative drugs and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs):

• definitions
• classification criteria

Examples of clinical use of biotechnological drugs:

• Drugs for the endocrine system (diabetes, bone metabolism)
• Drugs for the cardiovascular system (dyslipidemia, anticoagulants)
• Drugs for the immune system (autoimmune diseases, asthma)
• Drugs for the nervous system (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, motor neuron diseases, migraine)

Principles of preclinical investigation on biotech drugs:

• In vitro assays
• In vivo models: issues, approaches, and limitations
• Behavioural assessment methods in rodents
• Preclinical safety evaluation of biotechnology-derived pharmaceuticals
• Case Studies in biotech drug development: preclinical investigation of the impact of biotech drugs on neuroplasticity and the gut–brain axis

Course delivery

The lessons will be frontal with the aid of projected images.

Students will be provided with the teaching material required for the exam.

Learning assessment methods

Learning will be verified by means of a written exam on the entire program during the same session. The written test will be structured on the basis of 21 multiple choice questions (1.5 points for each correct answer; wrong answers will have a penalty of -0.5). 

Questions will be provided through the Moodle platform and it is based on sequential navigation mode, which requires students to complete the test in order and prohibits students from returning to skipped questions.

Those who are unable to use their own device to take the written test are asked to send an email to teachers WITHIN 48 hours before the exam.

The time for the test is 18 minutes.

In addition to the material that will be distributed by the teachers, the following textbooks are suggested:

Jayanta Kumar Patra et al., A Practical Guide to Pharmacological Biotechnology., Springer Verlag, Singapore, 2019

Eric Nestler et al., Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation for Clinical Neuroscience, McGraw-Hill Education, 2020

Goodman & Gilman's manual of pharmacology and therapeutics, ed: McGraw-Hill Education, 2022

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table