Are you not sure about Analytical Chemist career? Here you will get the answer

October 21, 2011 / pharma-santhu / No comments

Analytical chemists typically use a diverse range of methods to investigate the chemical nature of substances. The aim of such work is to identify and understand the substance and how it behaves in different conditions.

In the pharmaceutical industry, for example, analytical chemists are involved throughout the drug development process; they study the physical or chemical properties of drug substances and formulations, with a view to determining the quality and stability of drug products.

Analytical chemists may be involved in work as diverse as:

· Chemical or forensic analysis;

· Process development;

· Product validation;

· Quality control;

· Toxicology;

· Drug formulation and development.

 

Typical work activities

Typical work activities include:

· Analysing samples from various sources to provide information on compounds or quantities of compounds present;

· Using analytical techniques and instrumentation, such as gas and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ion chromatography, electrochromatography and spectroscopy (infrared and ultraviolet, amongst others);

· Interpreting data and adhering to strict guidelines on documentation when recording data;

· Reporting scientific results;

· Using a range of analytical techniques, instrumentation and software;

· Developing new techniques for the analysis of drug products and chemicals;

· Working collaboratively in cross-functional teams;

· Liaising with customers, staff and suppliers;

· Being aware of, and keeping up to date with, health and safety issues in all aspects of the work undertaken;

· Validating methods and equipment

Salary and conditions

  • Salaries vary depending upon the employer, geographical location and the employer’s primary business. Benefits also differ according to the employer, but free or subsidised medical insurance is common.
  • The working hours are nine to five, possibly with some extra hours depending upon the workload and sample schedule.
  • Working in multidisciplinary teams is common, as is communicating with scientists and customers from both within and outside the company.
  • At more junior levels, staff are likely to be predominantly lab-based, whereas staff at more senior levels are increasingly office-based.
  • Self-employment is very unlikely due to the significant financial investment in equipment and staffing, plus the need for accreditation. There are opportunities for freelance consultancy work, although large companies tend to have their own experts.
  • Work may occasionally be stressful due to tight deadlines and pressure to solve problems as quickly as possible. Routine analysis may involve doing the same job for long periods of time, although this is less likely at more senior levels.
  • Typically, travel within a working day and absence from home overnight are not that common. Overseas travel is rare, although secondments abroad may be possible at higher grades.

Career development

The role of analytical chemist offers great opportunities for career progression and employment is possible in a wide range of industries. Progression to more senior grades will involve undertaking increasing responsibility, and promotion will depend upon ability and experience. Obtaining a higher qualification, such as a PhD, is a common route into senior roles.

Category: Pharma careers /

Top Pharma companies:

October 21, 2011 / pharma-santhu / No comments

History:

Novo Nordisk’s history spans more than 80 years. The story begins in 1922 when a Danish couple, August and Marie Krogh, travelled to America. August Krogh was a professor at the University of Copenhagen who had received the Nobel Prize in physiology. His wife, Marie Krogh, was a doctor and researcher in metabolic diseases.  Marie also suffered from late-onset (type 2) diabetes.

Banting and Best
While in America the Kroghs heard of two Canadian researchers, Frederick Banting and Charles Best, who were treating people with diabetes with an insulin extract from bovine pancreases. The Kroghs were very interested in this treatment because of Marie’s diabetes, and they ultimately were granted permission to produce insulin in Denmark.

Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium
On their return to Denmark, Krogh and Dr H C Hagedorn, a specialist in the regulation of blood sugar, decided that some extensive research was required. They called on the Danish pharmacist August Kongsted who offered to pay for the research and help start production. On 21 December 1922 the two men succeeded in extracting a small quantity of insulin from a bovine pancreas and the first patients were treated in March 1923. In spring 1923 they founded Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium (Nordisk).

Harald Pedersen
In 1923 the engineer Harald Pedersen joined Nordisk to build the machines used for insulin production. His brother, Thorvald Pedersen, was later recruited to analyse the chemical processes during insulin production. However, Thorvald Pedersen did not get on with Hagedorn, and in 1924 Hagedorn fired him. Out of loyalty to his brother Harald resigned and the two brothers set up on their own. By 1924 they too were successfully producing insulin and in 1925 the brothers sent a letter to Danish pharmacists informing them that Insulin Novo and the newly developed Novo syringe were now on sale. The brothers named their company Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium (Novo). There were now two firms in Denmark that were to develop into the world’s leading manufacturers of insulin.

Novo and Nordisk
Over the next 65 years both companies rapidly expanded. Both established large research units and competed furiously to be the first on the market with new products for the treatment of diabetes. Nordisk and Novo also both began to diversify by developing other products. Novo became the world’s largest producer of industrial enzymes, and Nordisk developed drugs for the treatment of haemophilia and growth disorders.

Merger
In January 1989 Novo and Nordisk decided to join forces. Having competed with each other for more than 60 years, the two companies could now concentrate their combined forces on developing new products for treating diabetes and on conquering world markets. The new company was called Novo Nordisk A/S.

Healthcare and Enzymes
In early 1999 it was decided that Novo Nordisk would demerge into two main businesses: Healthcare and Enzymes.  The demerger enables the two businesses to increase their operational freedom and focus on what they do best. On 14 November 2000 Novo Nordisk and Novozymes began operating as two separately listed companies. And so the story continues…

novo nordisk head quarters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category: Pharma images /

Drug Metaboliasm

October 20, 2011 / pharma-santhu / No comments

Metabolism of a substrate by a CYP consumes one molecule of molecular oxygen and produces an oxidized substrate and a molecule of water as a by-product. However, for most CYPs, depending on the nature of the substrate, the reaction is “uncoupled,” consuming more O2 than substrate metabolized and producing what is called activated oxygen or O2 -.

 

The O2 - is usually converted to water by the enzyme superoxide dismutase.

(1)   What is superoxide dismutase?

As a family of enzymes, CYPs are involved in the metabolism of dietary and xenobiotic agents, as well as the synthesis of endogenous compounds such as steroids and the metabolism of bile acids, which are degradation by-products of cholesterol.

In contrast to the drug-metabolizing CYPs, the CYPs that catalyze steroid and bile acid synthesis have very specific substrate preferences.

For example, the CYP that produces estrogen from testosterone, CYP19 or aromatase, can metabolize only testosterone and does not metabolize xenobiotics. Specific inhibitors for aromatase, such as anastrozole, have been developed for use in the treatment of estrogen-dependent tumors.

The synthesis of bile acids from cholesterol occurs in the liver, where, subsequent to CYP-catalyzed oxidation, the bile acids are conjugated and transported through the bile duct and gallbladder into the small intestine. CYPs involved in bile acid production have strict substrate requirements and do not participate in xenobiotic or drug metabolism.

Ideally, the best drug candidate would be metabolized by several CYPs so that variability in expression levels of one CYP or drug-drug interactions would not significantly impact its metabolism and pharmacokinetics.

Similar studies can be carried out with phase 2 enzymes and drug transporters in order to predict the metabolic fate of a drug. In addition to the use of recombinant human xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in predicting drug metabolism, human receptor-based (PXR and CAR) systems should also be used to determine whether a particular drug candidate could be a ligand for PXR, CAR, or PPARa.

Category: Drug metabolism /

Renin-angiotensin (RA) system

October 20, 2011 / pharma-santhu / No comments

(1)    Renin-angiotensin (RA) system plays significant role in the pathophysiology of hypertension, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction and diabetic nephropathy. It is essential to understand the biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physiology of RA system.

(2)    In 1898, Tiegerstedt found saline extracts of kidney contained the pressor substance and they named it as renin

(3)    In 1934 Goldblatt and his colleagues demonstrated that constriction of renal arteries produced persistent hypertension in dogs.

(4)    In 1940, Braun-menendez and his colleagues in Argentina and page and helmer in USA reported that renin was an enzyme that acted on plasma protein substrate to catalyse the formation of actual pressor , a peptide that was named hypertensin by Braun colleagues and angiotonin by page colleagues.

(5)    These names persisted for 20 years and later it was agreed to rename the pressor substance to angiotensin and to call the plasma substrate angiotensinogen.

(6)    In 1950s, two forms of angiotensin were recognised, a decapeptide (Angiotensin I) and an octapeptide (Angiotensin-II).

(7)    This octapeptide Angiotensin-II formed by proteolytic cleavage of angiotensin-I by an enzyme termed angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

(8)    In further studies it has shown that this octapeptide shown more activity and it’s synthesis in 1957 by Schwyzer and by Bumpus has achieved.

Category: Pharmacology notes /

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October 20, 2011 / pharma-santhu / One comment

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