Master of Science (MSc) in Medicinal Chemistry

The first year consists of five compulsory courses within the following subject areas: medicinal chemistry, structure-based drug discovery, advanced organic chemistry, and biopharmaceuticals - core subjects in modern drug discovery research.

If you wish to specialise within a certain area of medicinal chemistry, you can choose to focus your study programme, giving you an academic profile.

Your profile could be within one of the areas listed below or another tailor-made combination of elective courses and your thesis project, which align with your competences and interests.

Your elective courses are not limited to these profiles and could also include data science or other areas of your interest.

Profile in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

With this profile you will be a specialist in synthesizing druglike molecules – that is, the actual active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The majority of new APIs are still small molecules with a molecular weight of less than 500 Da. These small molecules are most often made by advanced chemical synthesis methods; hence a thorough knowledge of organic chemistry is needed to become a skilled synthetic medicinal chemist.

You can take advanced chemistry elective courses to develop your competences within theoretical and experimental organic chemistry. These competences might be very useful for you as a future medicinal chemist working with drug discovery or scale-up in drug development departments.

Profile in Biopharmaceuticals

If you would like a specialised focus on peptide- and protein-based drugs and other biopharmaceuticals, you can specialise in biopharmaceuticals.

The specialisation consists of a number of elective courses with relation to biopharmaceuticals. You will get insights into discovery and early development of biopharmaceuticals. Additionally, you will learn how these groups of drug molecules can be used to solve questions on the borderline between chemistry and biology or be used as potential drug compounds.

Profile in Structure-Based Drug Design

Almost all drugs interact with proteins, which are structurally very diverse and have many different functions. Since proteins are involved in almost all biological processes that sustain life and diseases, they are natural drug targets. Hence, it is possible to treat the symptoms of disease by using drugs that change protein activity. That may sound simple, but in practice it is a major challenge.

A good starting point in the production of new drugs is to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of the target molecule. The drug’s role is to open or close the functionality of the protein. Medicinal chemists can use this knowledge to design drugs.

Profile in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

The profile consists of elective courses that will develop your competences within radiopharmaceutical/nuclear chemistry research, development, and production processes.

The profile in radiopharmaceutical chemistry is established in a close collaboration between Rigshospitalet (the university hospital in Copenhagen) and the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology at the University of Copenhagen.

As part of your electives, you can choose to do a short internship or research project (called an individualised study unit) either at research groups at the University of Copenhagen or at, for instance, a medical company. Your lecturers may have academic input and contacts, but please note that finding the place and supervisor for this is on your own initiative.

Read more about the individualised study unit

It is possible to study abroad during your degree. Your third semester is best suited for studying abroad but it will require a modified study plan. Alternatively, you can choose to write part of your thesis abroad. It is also possible to take a summer course in place of an elective.

Why Study Abroad?

A main objective of studying abroad is to further widen your academic knowledge and network. You are also likely to benefit socially and culturally.

It is a good idea to seek advice from lecturers and the student guidance when planning your studies abroad to find out where to go and how to structure your academic programme. Your lecturers may have academic input, international contacts, and may also be able to provide you with references which can prove useful.

Exchange Agreements

The University of Copenhagen has an extensive number of exchange agreements with universities worldwide.

Information about partner universities specific to Medicinal Chemistry is available through the International Relations Office at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences.

Student Mobility at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Researchers at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Science offer a wide range of thesis subjects.

You can carry out your thesis project in a research group at the Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, the Department of Chemistry or any other relevant department at the university. Also, there are opportunities to write an industry-based thesis in Denmark or abroad.

All research groups involved in the programme enjoy close cooperation with relevant medicinal chemistry departments in pharmaceutical companies of Medicon Valley. This cooperation is a key element of several programme courses as well as thesis-related work. The close contact established during the programme is also expected to play an important role in the transition from study to professional career.

Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology

Department of Chemistry

Medicon Valley

Knowledge

When graduating, you will have acquired knowledge about:

• The rational basis for design and development of drugs
• New and effective methods of synthesis for incorporation of the most important functional groups
• The relationship between molecular structure and biological activity at the molecular level, including the importance of steric, stereochemical, conformational and electrostatic factors
• Structural chemical methods that can be used in the rational design of drugs
• Solid-phase methods of synthesis used to make peptides and peptide derivatives, including peptidomimetics
• The significance of conformational, steric and electronic factors with regard to regio- and stereoselective syntheses of drug candidates
• Physical-chemical parameters important for the development of potential drug substances.

Skills

You are able to:

• Analyse and evaluate methods of synthesis to choose an optimal strategy for the synthesis of a target molecule
• Design, plan, and conduct advanced syntheses on the basis of a critical review of articles in international journals and patent literature
• Use and critically evaluate results achieved by modern computer-based methods for structural-activity analyses of biologically active compounds (potential drugs)
• Explain the key principles used for the rational basis of design and development of new drugs
• Explain the most important chemical, physical-chemical and pharmacokinetic properties of important groups of drugs
• Explain the properties and reactivity of heteroaromatic compounds
• Plan chemical modifications of proteins and estimate the effects.

Competences

You are able to:

• Plan, carry out and report on research and development projects. For example, related to the design and production of new small molecule and macromolecular drugs in cooperation with scientists from other disciplines
• Plan and conduct advanced organic chemical syntheses as well as syntheses and modifications of peptides, proteins etc. relevant to the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.

Your qualifications as a Medicinal Chemistry graduate are applicable in other contexts in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, and biotechnical industries, for example, in connection with the design, production, and development of potential new drugs.

Examples of employment opportunities

• PhD programmes and industry science positions within organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery.
• Development of new radioactive entities including routine production of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy at hospitals and pharmaceutical companies.
• Patenting such as positions in pharmaceutical companies and private- or public-sector patent agencies.
• Developing effective, safe, robust synthesis procedures for use in high-volume production of the active drug substance.
• Chemistry and manufacturing control (CMC) as an employee of a parent company or a Contract Research Organisation (CRO).
• Regulatory affairs and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC).

The University of Copenhagen is located in the midst of one of the world’s leading biotech areas – Medicon Valley – home to almost 300 ‘life science’ companies. The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences is known for its collaboration with industry.

One of these collaborative endeavours is the school’s own Drug Research Academy (DRA). DRA covers all key research areas in drug development from research, development and production to clinical testing.

This close concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical companies in the region coupled with the school’s collaboration with industry provides good opportunities for students to build contacts to future employers during their studies.

There are excellent opportunities to find student jobs related to the field and to initiate thesis projects at one of the many companies in the area.

Medicon Valley Alliance