The existence of the unit of Drug Design and Synthesis: "Classic and Rational Strategies" is justified by the need to complement the content of the units of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, general in nature, with the knowledge essential to follow-up the progress in drug discovery and development.
The overall objective of this unit is to make the student to contact with the various strategies / methodologies for planning and obtaining drugs. Thus, we will present a concept of evolutionary and integrated strategies for finding new drugs, including the classic strategies that rely on screening techniques for evaluation and determination of biological activities of "hit" and "lead" compounds , designated by drug design or rational design, which involves computational molecular modeling techniques for ligand or structure based design.
Another objective  is concerned with the methods used to obtain drugs by synthesis.

The student should obtain:

 - A set of essential skills for monitoring the progress of drug discovery process

 - The overview of the process of drug development

 - Critical thinking through a problem-based learning on the indicated areas

 - develop the ability to communicate as well as argumentation through the presentation and discussion of case studies.

It is assumed students have the basic knowledge provided by the subjects: Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II, Pharmaceutical Chemistry I, Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Instrumental Analysis Methods.

- Lectures (2 hours / week): presentations on "Power Point"; seeks to provide knowledge in an engaging and deductive manner including problem based learning.The literature sources indicated during class are also considered study material
- Practical classes
- Practical lessons in computational chemistry.
- Preparation of a summary report concerning the "problem based learning" and computational chemistry indicating what was considered more relevant as learning
- Preparation, monitored by teachers, and presentation by the students of a case study.

The professors in charge will be available in the schedule previously announced at the beginning of the semester and by appointment.

- The preparation of a report of progress is the mandatory
- Presentation and discussion of a case study is the mandatory.
- The theoretical evaluation is done by a written test with query held in classroom practice or an examination at end of the semester, on subjects covered in the material concerning all the lectures.
- Students must obtain a minimum score on the written test or final examination more  than 8.6 out of 20.
- To obtain approval, students must obtain a final mark of 10 values (sum of all evaluation components).