Medicinal Chemistry & Organic Synthesis (MCOS)

The Medicinal Chemistry & Organic Synthesis (MCOS) unit is part of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), providing services in advanced medicinal chemistry. We have expertise in both disease biology and medicinal chemistry, in order to identify and optimize potential drug candidates that can advance to clinical trials.

The services that we offer includes

1) Synthesis and optimization of novel target-based active compounds

2) Synthesis of novel transporter-utilizing tissue-, cell-, or organelle-targeted compounds/prodrugs with improved drug delivery at the site of action

3) Evaluation of given compound (in- or out-house made) at the desired biological environment (incl. quantitative analysis of drugs as well as desired biomarkers)

The synthesis and optimization of novel target-based active compounds will be carried out in close collaboration with Prof. Poso’s node (Drug Design and Molecular Modelling; DDMM). The compounds can be tested in-house (e.g., via activity profiling assay with a chemical proteomics approach) or externally. Full- or part-optimization will be offered or proposed based on the properties that need to be improved, including but not limited to potency, solubility, and permeability. Advanced compounds can be further modified to interact with tissue-, cell-, or organelle-specific transporters by utilizing a prodrug approach. These can then be evaluated in-house via cell uptake studies, in vivo pharmacokinetics studies as required.