MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY AND PHARMACEUTICAL TECHNOLOGY

The specific learning outcomes of the single cycle degree programme are aimed at qualifying a professional figure that has the scientific preparation useful to operate in the pharmaceutical industry, and specifically in the design, development, preparation and control of drugs and medicinal preparations according to current regulations and in particular those codified in pharmacopoeia.
As for similar university programmes of other European countries, the Degree in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (MCPT) is aimed at training a professional figure for the pharmaceutical industry, with a theoretical and practical knowledge in the chemical, biological and pharmaceutical fields.
The competence acquired allows graduates to deal with the whole sequence of the complex multidisciplinary process which, starting from the design and optimization of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of leading compounds, leads to the production and control of the drug according to the standards codified in the pharmacopoeia. The study programme also prepares for access to employment opportunities in Europe in the field of pharmaceuticals.
Starting from the academic year 2022/23, the graduate in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology (MCPT) is automatically qualified for the profession of Pharmacist without the need to take the relevant State Exam. The graduate in MCPT can access the State Exam for the registration to Section A of the professional register of Chemist in order to become a Chemist.
To this end, the Degree Programme in MCPT provides the knowledge and understanding of the basic scientific aspects of Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Computer science and Statistics, which are useful for a scientific approach to problem-solving; biological and medical disciplines are an indispensable prerequisite for the correct understanding of the interaction of drugs with living organisms.
The graduates from the Degree programme in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology must have acquired knowledge of the methodology of scientific investigation applied in particular to the issues of the pharmaceutical sector, the pharmaceutical chemical and pharmacological knowledge fundamental for the design of biologically active substances, for the study of the structure-activity relationships resulting from the interaction of drugs with biomolecules at cellular and systemic level, the understanding of their chemical-physical properties, especially with regard to the characteristics of developability and processability as medicinal products, as well as for the control activities necessary to ensure the total quality of the industrial production process of medicines.
The graduate's knowledge of chemistry and biology, integrated with the understanding of pharmaco-economics and national and EU regulations governing the various activities in the pharmaceutical and para-pharmaceutical sector, guarantees the safety, quality and efficacy requirements of medicines and health products in general, as required by WHO guidelines.
Furthermore, the skills acquired includes the professional performance of the pharmaceutical service within the national health service, as well as the interaction with other health professions.
The training will include lectures and tests. The assessment procedures will include traditional oral and written tests and laboratory assignments.
The graduate must also be able to use, in written and oral form, at least one European Union language other than Italian, with reference also to disciplinary lexicons.
Finally, the Degree programme in MCPT includes a six-month period of professional internship in a pharmacy open to the public under the supervision of the local Pharmacists' Association, and/or of pharmaceutical service at the local Health Service Authority structures. The internship can be carried out in all pharmacies of the national and international territory, subject to an agreement stipulated with the Didactic Secretariat of the Department.
In the academic year 2015-2016 the Department of Pharmacy established the "Didactic Pharmacy"; this activity involves the teaching of Pharmaceutical Legislation through the supplementary module of "Pharmacy Management", which teaches and illustrates the operations carried out by the Pharmacist, such as management of paper and dematerialized reimbursable prescriptions, distribution of drugs to the patient with indications concerning posology and administration procedures, and activation of the management system.