Entry requirements

One of the following is required: (1) 120 credits including Biochemical Technology, 10 credits, or Methods in Biotechnology, 5 credits. 5 credits at Master's level in chemistry/pharmaceutical sciences/molecular biotechnology, or the course Experimental Methods in Structural Biology, 10 credits. Participation in Biologicals I, 7.5 credits; (2) 120 credits including Drug Development. Participation in Biologicals I, 7.5 credits; (3) Within the Master of Science Programme in Pharmacy, participation in all courses of semesters 1-7 and at least 150 credits in the programme including Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, as well as participation in Biologicals 7.5 credits. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• describe the structure, function and properties of different types of biologicals
• describe and compare techniques used for the development of biologicals
• argue for the selection of strategies for the design of biologicals
• describe and motivate the choice of chemical analyses used to identify and characterize biologicals
• apply biochemical methods for the production and analysis of biologicals
• argue for ethical and commercial aspects of the development and use of biologicals drugs

Content

Engineering aspects of the development of biologicals. Introduction to the design and properties of different types of protein drugs, eg. antibodies, antibody analogues, enzymes, hormones and other types of biologicals. Structure and physico-chemical properties of the drugs, as well as how they can be studied at different levels. Use of different engineering methods to design new / optimized variants. Functional analyses of the drug's biological effect. Strategies and methods for production of biologicals, incl. upscaling. Commercial and ethical aspects of the development and use of biologicals.

Instruction

Lectures, seminars, exercises, laboratory work, possibly. study visit.

Assessment

Written examination at the end of the course (5 credits). Exercises, laboratory work and other compulsory parts correspond to 2.5 credits. The final grade corresponds to a weighting of the results of the different course components.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the disability coordinator of the university.