Assuming minimum background knowledge, the book develops an understanding of the molecular function of drugs and how they interact with the body, before exploring drug discovery and development. It goes on to examine topical issues in applications of medicinal chemistry to novel drug design, to give a contemporary view of the field.

The average person in the UK will take more than 14,000 pills over the course of their life, yet few people consider the long road of development that has made that drug work without being toxic. An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry presents the field in an engaging style that is very accessible to students. Medicinal chemistry is a fast-moving field whose continuous new developments have far-reaching implications for world health. As such, this text presents a complete course in medicinal chemistry, from first principles of drug action, to design and development, to specific drugs from HIV inhibitors to painkillers. The book builds on the history of drug development, but does not assume much background knowledge. The focus is on building upon the understandings of the molecular function of drugs, and from there, taking a broad overview of the topical issues and most frequently used techniques. An Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry remains a leading text for the growing number of medicinal chemistry courses internationally, especially as modules in medical chemistry become a more popular option on chemistry courses.With enhanced attention to the pedagogical details such as key points and boxes, as well as having specific case studies highlighted in distinct sections, Patrick's new edition enables a full understanding of the subject and a clear idea of where the field is heading. Online Resource Centre The Online Resource Centre features: For registered adoptors of the book: * Answers to end-of-chapter questions * Figures from the book * Power Point slides * Test Bank questions For students: * Hyperlinked bibliography * Six-monthly updates to text * 3D Rotatable structures

• 1. Drugs and drug targets: an overview
• PART A: DRUG TARGETS: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
• 2. Protein structure and function
• 3. Enzymes: structure and function
• 4. Receptors: structure and function
• 5. Receptors and signal transduction
• 6. Nucleic acids: structure and function
• PART B: PHARMACODYNAMICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS
• 7. Enzymes as drug targets
• 8. Receptors as drug targets
• 9. Nucleic acids as drug targets
• 10. Other drug targets
• 11. Pharmacokinetics and related topics
• CASE STUDY 1: STATINS
• PART C: DRUG DISCOVERY, DESIGN, AND DEVELOPMENT
• 12. Drug discovery: finding a lead
• 13. Drug design: optimizing target interactions
• 14. Drug design: optimizing access to the target
• 15. Getting the drug to market
• CASE STUDY 2: THE DESIGN OF ACE INHIBITORS
• CASE STUDY 3: ARTEMISININ AND RELATED ANTIMALARIAL DRUGS
• CASE STUDY 4: THE DESIGN OF OXAMNIQUINE
• PART D: TOOLS OF THE TRADE
• 16. Combinatorial synthesis
• 17. Computers in medicinal chemistry
• 18. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR)
• CASE STUDY 5: DE NOVO DESIGN OF A THYMIDYLATE SYNTHASE INHIBITOR
• CASE STUDY 6: DESIGN OF A SEROTONIN ANTAGONIST AS A POSSIBLE ANXIOLYTIC AGENT
• PART E: SELECTED TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
• 19. Antibacterial agents
• 20. Antiviral agents
• 21. Anticancer agents
• 22. Cholinergics, anticholinergics, and anticholinesterases
• 23. Drugs acting on the adrenergic nervous system
• 24. The opium analgesics
• 25. Anti-ulcer agents
• CASE STUDY 7: DESIGN OF A NOVEL ANTIDEPRESSANT