Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Associate Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kathum Alkhateeb, the Scientific Affairs Unit at the University of Baghdad/College of Pharmacy, held an in-person scientific seminar on drug design strategies delivered by MSc student Noor Salah Hashim Alkaabi at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department. The seminar aimed to introduce the basics and steps of pharmaceutical design, the strategies and steps followed in that, and the purpose and benefit of them in modern pharmaceutical design and manufacturing.Currently, many drugs are being designed to target specific disorders. The biochemical and cellular abnormalities caused by the disease are identified, and compounds are designed to prevent or correct these changes (by affecting specific areas in the body). When a new promising compound is discovered, its structure undergoes many modifications to enhance its ability to target the intended site (selectivity), maintain binding to the site (affinity), improve its effectiveness (efficacy), and enhance its safety of use (reduce side effects).Other factors should also be considered, such as the compound’s ability to be absorbed through the intestinal wall and its stability in the body’s tissues and fluids. These factors involve the body’s impact on the drug (pharmacokinetics) and the drug’s impact on the body (pharmacodynamics).
