3 ECTS credits
90 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023436ENR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Om een inschrijving te kunnen nemen voor ‘Drug R&D in Industry’ moet men : Geslaagd zijn voor alle opleidingsonderdelen van het eerste jaar en het tweede jaar van de bachelor FW EN geslaagd of ingeschreven zijn voor alle opleidingsonderdelen van het derde jaar van de bachelor FW.
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculteit Geneeskunde en Farmacie
Department
Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences
Educational team
Walter Van Den Broeck (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
19 contact hours Lecture
8 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
16 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

The pharmaceutical industry in general and in Belgium. Sensitive subjects such as the very high price of more and more drugs and ethical dilemmas are explored. Several examples such as the history of the VUB spin-off Ablynx make things concrete.

 

Project selection in the industry.  How does the industry choose which medicines to develop. Aspects such as medical need, commercial feasibility, technical possibilities and logistics are addressed. The students learn to draw up a TPP - Target Product Profile - and defend it.

The different research strategies. Drug Repositioning, Phenotypic Screening, Fast Follower Approach and Target Based Research receive most attention. A medicinal chemistry competition and a demonstration of computer aided drug design (CADD) will also be presented.

Business scenarios. Companies do not only conduct applied research, they are also economic actors. Mergers, collaborations, acquisitions and failures come their way.

Additional info

The evaluation consists of a written test that mainly contains multiple choice questions but also some open questions. These tests take place at the end of each lesson.

In addition, the students have to do some preparatory work in order to be able to participate in the course: they have to choose their company and research projects and they have to draw up a TPP (Target Product Profile). During the lectures, each student also receives a question to look up. The final score consists of 70% of the tests, 30% of the TPP and the research question.

For those who receive an insufficient score (i.e. less than 10 out of 20), there is the possibility of a written exam during the examination period. In that case, the final score will consist of the average of the score obtained during the year and the score of the examination.

Learning Outcomes

General Competencies

  • In general, this course aims to bring the student into contact with the daily practice of drug discovery and development in the industry. Abstract theoretical knowledge will be related to concrete experiences in the industry.
  • - Some more specific learning objectives are:
    • To gain insight into the financial-commercial aspects of drug R&D and the ethical implications.
    • To gain insight into the different research strategies.
    • To show the students that starting a pharmaceutical company as a spin-off from the VUB is a realistic option. Yes you can!

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Examen schriftelijk with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

This course partly consists of a business simulation game with role-playing. Therefore attendance at each class is mandatory. The students set up a large or small company and choose their research projects. They then confront these research projects with reality and defend them against management. In the end, the firms choose the best research strategy. Along the way, success may be theirs, but they must also overcome failure and make decisions on which the patient's life or the survival of the company may depend.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Drug Development: AR without officinastage (only offered in Dutch)