How can I start for drug design to end up having a career as a drug designer?

Inorder to start for drug design to end up having a career as a drug designer, one needs to follow the processes below;

1. Discovery

2. Product characterization

3. Formulation, delivery, packaging development

4. Phamacokinetics and drug disposition

5. Preclinical toxicology testing and IND application

6. Bioanalytical testing

7. Clinical trials

Explanation:

Drug design is a method in which one develops new medicinal drugs based on the knowledge of a biological target.

The knowledge of the biological target is it's molecular make up. Once the molecular information about the target has been determined, the drug is developed to compliment the bio-molecular properties of the target.

The bio-molecular properties usually considered are the shape and the charge.

There are seven major processes to complete drug design. They are as follows;

1. Discovery

This starts with a target identification where the biochemical relationship involved in the disease condition. The interaction between a drug candidate and the drug target is determined using rigorous screening processes. A lead compound is chosen after effective review.

2. Product characterization

The candidate molecule is then classified and its characteristics noted.

3. Formulation, delivery, packaging development

Formulations for proper drug delivery parameters should be determined. This will include all parameters of shipment and storage to ensure proper and safe delivery.

4. Phamacokinetics and drug disposition

Pharmacokinetics (Pk) offer useful feedback to the formulation scientists. Pk offers parameters such as area under the curve and the maximum concentration of the drug in the blood and the time at which the maximum concentration is reached.

5. Preclinical toxicology testing and IND application

This involves the testing of the bio-activity, safety and efficacy of the formulated drug product

6. Bioanalytical testing

This is important for proper characterization of the molecule

7. Clinical trials

The clinical trial are conducted by grouping them into three types, majorly;

human pharmacology, therapeutic exploratory, and therapeutic confirmatory