VOCATIONAL-TRAINING FOR MEDICINAL CHEMISTS - VIEWS FROM INDUSTRY

The Medicinal Chemistry Section of IUPAC sent a questionnaire regardin g academic training for medicinal chemists to major research pharmaceu tical companies in various countries in July 1992 and again in July 19 93. A total of 102 replies were received from 65 companies, mainly fro m Germany, Italy, Japan, the VK and the USA, and these have been analy sed and the results are presented. Most companies (> 90%) indicated th at they seek to hire organic chemists who may have received some addit ional education in medicinal chemistry, rather than hire specialists i n medicinal chemistry. The subjects most often mentioned as being desi rable for the additional education were biochemistry (or drug metaboli sm and pharmacokinetics), pharmacology and physiology, computer modell ing and QSAR, and molecular biology.