IDENTIFYING DATA 2022_23
Subject (*) VACCINES AND PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS Code 19204206
Study programme
Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology (2009)
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
3 Optional Fourth 1Q
Language
Anglès
Department Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Coordinator
TORRES FUENTES, CRISTINA
 E-mail cristina.torres@urv.cat
Lecturers
TORRES FUENTES, CRISTINA
Web
General description and relevant information <p>LECTURES IN ENGLISH</p><p>This subject aims to provide with basic knowledge in pharmacology and immunology to understand how certain types of biotechnological products are transformed into drugs (i.e. vaccine development). The acquired knowledge will allow communication with professionals from the pharmaceutical industry, such as scientific researchers, pharmacists, clinical pharmacologists or pharmaceutical "marketing" specialists. The knowledge and detailed analysis of the biotechnological products present on the market will lay the foundations to assess the current situation and the prospects of biotechnological products as human therapeutic agents. In conclusion, it is intended that the student acquire basic notions that prepare him for a potential incorporation in the pharmaceutical industry.</p>

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A6 Know how to design and apply experimental laboratory protocols in the fields of biotechnology, especially chemical, biochemical, microbiological and molecular biology, assessing their risks and safety elements.
Type B Code Competences Transversal
Type C Code Competences Nuclear

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A6 Describe the main methodologies of applications and processes used in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Type B Code Learning outcomes
Type C Code Learning outcomes

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
1. BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY Introduction. History of the pharmaceutical industry. Main biopharmaceuticals. Current state of biotechnology and applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Impact of biotechnology on drug development processes. Pharmacoeconomics.
2. DEVELOPMENT OF NEW DRUGS IN THE POSTGENOMIC ERA "Hit" and "lead" compounds. Choice of pathology and biological target. Validation of a target. "Lead" compounds and development of new drugs. In silico chemistry. Screening. Compound optimization. Other therapeutic strategies.
3. BIOPHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PROCESSES IN DRUG DEVELOPMENT Data mining, molecular cloning and characterization. Gene isolation. Protein expression systems. Molecular optimization to increase protein expression. Rational design. Examples: Sandostatin, Norvir, Enbrel. Drug development process. Clinical trials.
4. SOURCES OF BIOPHARMACEUTICALS AND FINAL PRODUCT ANALYSIS Biopharmaceutical production systems. E.coli as a source of recombinant therapeutic proteins. Expression of recombinant proteins in animal cell culture systems. Additional production systems: Yeasts, fungi, transgenic animals, mosses and insects. Protein-based contaminants. Elimination of altered forms of the protein of interest. Detection of protein-based impurities. Capillary electrophoresis. HPLC. Mass spectrometry. Immunological approaches for the detection of contaminants. Endotoxins and other pyrogenic pollutants.
5. PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF BIOPHARMACEUTICALS Introduction. Allometric scaling. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic peculiarities of peptides and proteins. Absorption and bioavailability. Elimination and metabolism. Glycosylation and protein stability. "Chemical marking". Proteolysis. Preferential routes of administration
6. VACCINES Vaccines as specific immunoactivating drugs based on antigen processing. Identification of the type of vaccines by their origin and composition. Synthetic, recombinant, anti-idiotype vaccines. The immunology of adjuvants. Vaccine applications: infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases and cancer. Perspectives on the development of new vaccines
7. NEW THERAPIES AGAINST CANCER Tyrosine kinases inhibitors. Angiogenesis inhibitors. Immunotherapy
8. MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND IMMUNOTOXINS Immunoglobulins and antisera as passive specific immunoactivating drugs. Distinguish immunoglobulin from antiserum. Place monoclonal antibodies, humanized monoclonal antibodies, and immunotoxins in this context. Pharmacologically characterize these products. Identify the products of this type currently marketed.

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
0.5 0 0.5
Lecture
A6
 15 37.5 52.5
Personal attention
0.5 0 0.5
Presentations / oral communications
A6
 6 13.5 19.5
 
Mixed tests
A6
 2 0 2
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities Introduction to the subject
Lecture Lecture sessions for the explanation of the content of the different units in the subject (english)
Personal attention Personal meetings for resolving doubts related to the subject
Presentations / oral communications The student presents a topic related to the content of the subject (Catalan, English or Spanish)

Personalized attention
Description

Time each teacher has reserved to attend and answer questions to students. Personalized attention will be via online meetings&nbsp; or face-to-face modality (Room 110), at previously arranged times by email (cristina.torres@urv.cat), or through other virtual tools.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Presentations / oral communications
A6
 The student presents a topic related to the content of the subject (Catalan, English or Spanish) 20%
Mixed tests
A6
 Exam with questions related to the different Units of the subject 80%
Others  
 
Other comments and second exam session

In the second call, the complete content of the subject will be evaluated. The seminar score is saved (20%)

During the assessment tests, mobile phones, tablets and other devices not expressly authorized must be switched off and out of sight.

Sources of information

Basic J.M Walker, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, tercera, Royal Society of Chemistry, (1993)
O.Kayser, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology. Drug Discovery and Clinical Applications, segona, Willey (2003)
G. Walsh, Biopharmaceuticals: Biochemistry and Biotechnology, tercera , Willey (1998)
G.Grandi, Genomics, proteomics and vaccines, primera, Willey (2004)
S.C.Gad, Handbook of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, primera, Willey (2007)
M.Gibaldi, Biotchnology and Biopharmaceuticals. Transforming proteins and genes into drugs, segona , Willey (2003)
Texas University, Virtual laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, , 2005

Complementary

Recommendations
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.