535-0310-00L  Glycobiology in Drug Development

Courses

Catalogue data

Abstract	Protein-based drugs constitute around 25% of new approvals and most of them are glycoproteins. Using selected examples of prominent glycoprotein drugs, the course aims at providing insight into glycosylation-activity relationships and into biotechnological production and analytics.
Learning objective	Students gain basic knowledge in "pharmaceutical glycobiology". This implies knowing and understanding: - major mechanisms underlying the roles of glycosylation for the biological/therapeutic actions of glycoproteins (glycosylation-function relationships) using prominent examples of glycoprotein drugs. - the major types of protein-linked glycans and the biosynthetic pathways for their formation - how glycoprotein drugs are produced (including the most important expression systems used), glycoengineered and analysed (quality control). Students are able to apply this knowledge in solving simple problems in glycoprotein drug development (on paper). Students gain the ability to reflect on roles of glycosylation in various biological contexts.
Content	lecture plan: 1. Glycans - information carriers in biology and pharmacotherapy 2. Glucocerebrosidase and the biosynthesis of N-glycans 3. Improving the therapeutic profile of monoclonal antibodies by glycoengineering 4. Mucin-type O-glycans and sialylation as gCQA of glycoprotein hormone drugs 5. production and gCQA analysis of Glucocerebrosidase, monoclonal antibodies, glycoprotein hormone drugs - Glycoanalytics 6. EPO "the same but different"
Lecture notes	The slides used for the lectures will be provided online
Literature	- Essentials of Glycobiology 3rd edition, A. Varki, R.D. Cummings et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York 2017. - recent publications as cited/proposed on the lecture slides
Prerequisites / Notice	Requirements: Basic knowledge in immunology, molecular biology, protein and carbohydrate chemistry, analytical techniques. Basic knowledge in pharmacology.
Competencies	Subject-specific Competencies Concepts and Theories assessed Techniques and Technologies assessed Method-specific Competencies Analytical Competencies assessed Problem-solving assessed Social Competencies Communication assessed Personal Competencies Creative Thinking assessed Critical Thinking assessed

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits	1 credit
Examiners	V. I. Otto
Type	graded semester performance
Language of examination	English
Repetition	Repetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Admission requirement	Regular attendance of the lessons and answering the take home questions related to each lesson is highly recommended. The lecture slides are designed to illustrate what is explained and discussed during the lessons.
Additional information on mode of examination	A statement or question regarding the main topics of the course has to be discussed / answered in the form of an essay (700-1000 words written in English, German, French or Italian). The assay will be reviewed and graded. At a later time point to be agreed upon by lecturer and students, the essays and their contents will be discussed.

Learning materials

Groups

Restrictions

Offered in

Programme	Section	Type
Human Medicine Bachelor	Compensatory Courses	W
Pharmaceutical Sciences Master	Electives I	W
Pharmaceutical Sciences Bachelor	Compensatory Courses	W
Pharmacy Master	Electives	W