Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
This module provides an integrated and fully contextualised overview of crucial topics covering the breadth of the pharmaceutical quality assurance and analysis. The context which underpins all aspects of the module is product safety, and the emphasis of the module content will focus on how analytical methods and systems provide assurances on the safety ¿ and efficacy ¿ of medicines. The module is underpinned by the national and international regulations that frame the manufacture, distribution and use of medicines (e.g. ICH = International Council of Harmonisation, OECD = Organisation for Economical Co-operation and Development, GMP = Good Manufacturing Practice, GLP = Good Laboratory Practice). Pharmaceutical analysis is therefore discussed both from the viewpoint of the drug development process and the on-going quality assurance of the finished drug product, moving from early non-GMP investigations to the final implementation of process analytical technology. The most commonly used analytical procedures (NMR, liquid chromatography, mass spectroscopy) are discussed in detail and supported by practical exercises that develop quantitative skills. A wide range of techniques are discussed in outline, and directed study exercises are provided so that the students gain some familiarity with development tools. Experimentation and data analysis is key to an understanding of pharmaceutical quality and an examination of the essential and appropriate techniques for the acquisition and analysis of experimental data will be provided. This module will run across Semesters 1 and 2. It contains a ¿synoptic¿ assessment, which aims to integrate the learning of the module into a single ¿real-world¿ evaluation of product safety and efficacy. Woven throughout the module is development of essential team-working and leadership skills: group-based tasks within the laboratory classes and practical skills workshops provide students with a forum to demonstrate their potential to work in and lead interdisciplinary teams.
Aims
The module will develop students knowledge of the application of appropriate methods of pharmaceutical analysis in the development, manufacture and use of medicines and which are central to the BSc in Pharmaceutical Science, Technology and Business programme. In doing so it will develop an underpinning knowledge of pharmaceutical dosage forms in the biopharmaceutical context of routes of administration. Chemical, physical, analytical, microbiological and biological methods will be considered.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Explain the processes involved in the quality control of all aspects of pharmaceutical drug development, formulation and the manufacturing process: 1,2,3Describe in detail analytical techniques employed to assure quality and safety during the drug development process and the quality, safety and efficacy of the finished drug product: 1,2,3Explain the common techniques used in the analysis of biological data to arrive at safe and appropriate drug selection for a patient: 1,2,3Describe the role of pharmaceutical analysis and quality assurance methods in the context of national and international standards and regulatory processes: 1,2,3Describe the processes involved in the quality assurance of all aspects of pharmaceutical drug development, formulation and the manufacturing process, and how they are applied to the development and production of medicines: 1,2,3Explain the relationship between absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination of drugs and their physicochemical properties and formulation: 1,2,3Compare and evaluate the efficiency and safety of different routes of drug administration: 1,2,3Demonstrate the relationship between the design of drug product formulation, properties of the formulation, in vitro behaviour and in vivo performance: 1,2,3Demonstrate competence in pharmaceutical calculations related to pharmaceutical quality assurance and quality systems: 1,2,3Demonstrate competence in the performance of laboratory techniques in the pharmaceutical sciences and the analysis of data generated therein: 1,2,3
Large- and small-group teaching sessions: 50 hoursSkills-based practical work: 50 hoursDirected private study, revision and assessment: 197 hoursSynoptic exam: 1 hourExam: 2 hours
Description of Module Assessment
1: Laboratory Assessment weighted 30%Laboratory assessmentThe laboratory assessment will comprise elements from multiple laboratory sessions (2 x 3 hours laboratory sessions).
This will consist of the HPLC practical and the microbiology practical and will be summarised in a single report (of 3000 words in length).
2: Mixed Exam weighted 20%Synoptic assessmentThis assessment requires students to work in groups. It will potentially cover all topics studied during the module, but will focus in particular on demonstrating understanding of the integration of those topics.
There are two components to the synoptic assessments.
- Students will prepare a group report (4000 words) which is weighted at 60% of the assessment. All students in the group will be awarded the same mark.
- Students will also attend a one hour panel interview where the group will be questioned on their synoptic project and group report. Students will be asked questions individually and assessed individually. This interview lasts one hour for a group. This is weighted as 40% of the assessment.
Feedback for this assessment is provided by a series of workshops (4 x 3 hours) throughout the module. It is further supported by subject-specific tutorials throughout the module
3: Exam weighted 50%End of module examinationEnd of module examination will be two hours in length.
This will be supported by workshops and problem classes throughout the module.
Small-stakes assessments will be introduced to this component and will comprise no more than 10% of the overall module mark.