Medicinal Chemistry

Medicinal chemistry is a specialised field of chemistry that focuses on the study and development of pharmaceutical drugs. It is concerned with the design, synthesis and characterisation of chemical compounds that may have therapeutic value. Medicinal chemists apply their knowledge in organic chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology and chemical biology to create new drugs that can be used for treatment and prevention of diseases. Discovery and development of new medicines is essential to tackling the world’s most pressing health challenges, from infectious diseases to cancer. Medicinal chemistry has led to the development of a range of medicines that have saved millions of lives.