The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7243 p485
5 April 2003

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A valid introduction to biomacromolecules but a couple of weaknesses

'Pharmaceutical chemistry: therapeutic aspects of biomolecules', by Christine M. Bladon. Pp xii+221. Price £24.95. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd; 2002. ISBN 0 471 49637 5

The stated raison d'être for this short textbook is "to provide an informed introduction to the strategies involved in the development and production of clinically useful biomacromolecules". We are told that the book stems from a series of lectures given to final-year students on a pharmaceutical chemistry degree course and there is undoubtedly a focus on the molecular sciences. A useful glossary of the biomedical and immunological terms, likely to be familiar to biomedical science and pharmacy students, suggests that the target audience is predominantly final-year undergraduate students in chemistry or biochemistry. Nevertheless this book does focus on an important interface and draws together valuable interdisciplinary information that is not readily available in other student texts. As such it also provides useful additional reading material for undergraduates in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences.

The material is organised under the headings of the three main groups of macromolecules, namely peptides and proteins, oligonucleotides and oligosaccharides. Since peptides and proteins represent the biomacromolecules most commonly used therapeutically, understandably the greatest proportion of the book is devoted to this group. The first section covers isolation, synthesis, semi-synthesis, recombinant and transgenic technologies, and specific examples of clinical application. This is clearly presented with good diagrams and illustrations and provides an excellent general overview. The following chapter deals with the modifications of endogenous peptides and proteins. Although the author acknowledges a liberal interpretation of the term biomacromolecule, the first part of this chapter does perhaps overemphasise the classical medicinal chemistry associated with mimetic design of small peptide hormones. But the latter part on the chemical modification of proteins and protein engineering is well focused and instructive.

Oligonucleotide-based therapies are still very much at the development stage, but in this chapter the complexity of the underlying science is conveyed in a concise and interesting manner. The many problems associated with the further development of gene and antisense therapies are significant and these are clearly indicated. The final chapter deals with oligosaccharides and provides a brief overview of the potential of carbohydrate-based drugs.

My major criticism of the book is the inclusion of a relatively large chapter on the immune system. Although the coverage is adequate, there are many excellent introductory texts to this field. It fits uncomfortably with the rest of the book and appears almost semi-detached. In addition I would have liked to see a chapter or a section on the role of biomacromolecules in both formulation and drug delivery systems. This would have drawn in an important area not normally covered in undergraduate textbooks. Nevertheless despite these weaknesses the book remains a valid introduction to an area poorly served by standard undergraduate textbooks.

Barrie W. Bycroft