The Significance of Synthetic Chemistry in Advancing Pharmaceutical Research and Development in Nigeria: A Call to Action
Abubakar Danraka, Akande Abdulmujeeb · Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy · 2023
Introduction: Synthetic chemistry techniques allow for the exploration of a vast chemical space, leading to the creation of diverse libraries of molecules for screening against various biological targets. These compounds serve as starting points for the development of lead compounds with desirable druglike properties. Synthetic chemistry also plays a crucial role in large-scale synthesis of pharmaceuticals, optimizing drug formulation, enhancing drug stability, and improving therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, synthetic chemistry allows for the creation of analogs and derivatives of existing drugs, leading to improvements in therapeutic efficacy, reduced toxicity, and enhanced pharmacokinetic properties. Method: The literature search for this scoping review was conducted on Google Scholar, ResearchGate and Elsevier web databases using the following phrases and keywords Processes of Drug Development, Drug Discovery, Relevance of Synthetic Chemistry in Pharmaceutical Research and Development. Only publications that had full open access for complete manuscript and had publication year within the period 2003 to 2022 were included in the review. Conclusion: Several challenges impede the full utilization of synthetic chemistry in Nigeria's pharmaceutical industries, including limited research infrastructure, inadequate funding, shortage of skilled personnel, and reliance on imported raw materials. Overcoming these challenges requires collaborative efforts and investment in research infrastructure, funding support, education and skill development, local production of raw materials, and streamlining of regulatory processes.