Postgraduate Course: Commercial Aspects of Drug Discovery (PGBI11049)

Course Outline
School	School of Biological Sciences	College	College of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	10	ECTS Credits	5
Summary	The aim of this course is to analyse a diverse range of biotech and pharma business models in place in a range of companies from large multinationals (e.g. Novartis) to small start-up companies. Non-profit models for drug discovery and development through government funding agencies will also be discussed. Visits to companies or presentations from managers within various companies will be used to provide an insight into what factors drive success in a wide range of science-based companies. For each presentation or visit you will write a short blog summarising and analysing the company model. Blogs will also be used to present your original ideas for starting a biotech-related enterprise. You will use the information presented over the course to develop a business plan for your own biotech start-up company. Groups of 2 to 4 will work together to develop an original business plan.
Course description	There will be a series of presentations from a number of SME (small medium enterprise) biotech companies and research institutes. Where possible site visits will be organised which will provide an opportunity to study the detailed workings of experimental programs in a commercial environment. Scientific techniques will include assay development, HTS (High Throughput Screening) microarray technology, and medicinal chemistry. Discussion sessions with biotech managers and scientists will provide an opportunity of analysing the key steps and bottlenecks in the translational process. A course outline detailing each weeks lecture will be available from Learn towards the end of Semester One.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations	Students MUST NOT also be taking Economics and Innovation in the Biotechnology Industry (PGBI11059)	Other requirements	None

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: 40
Course Start	Semester 2
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 14, External Visit Hours 14, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 65 )
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Feedback	Peer feedback, verbal and written, will be provided on blog posts and presentations in a round table peer review session towards the end of the course. Written feedback will be provided on all assessments at the end of the course.
No Exam Information

Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to: Appreciate the important factors driving the research and technology development within the biopharmaceutical industry Work well in a team Prepare and present short seminars Write a business plan