The goal of the book is to contribute, adopting a clear and interesting writing style, to the understanding of drug design and the molecular mechanism through which they act in the human body. For this reason, the author emphasizes the importance of pharmaceutical chemistry for all of us and highlights how exciting it is to work in a field that combines the principles of chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, cell biology, and pharmacology.

The textbook is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students with basic knowledge of chemistry who are involved in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, while it is particularly interesting for those who wish to pursue a professional career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Its pedagogical characteristics include:

• Key terms integrated into the text: The main concepts of pharmaceutical chemistry, as well as the names of the most important pharmaceutical agents, are incorporated into the text, while the definitions are provided in a detailed Glossary at the end of the book, which will help you familiarize yourself with the terminology.
• Boxes: They include more advanced material and present the applications of pharmaceutical chemistry concepts in clinical practice.
• Key points: Presented at the end of the main sections of each chapter, summarizing the key concepts and providing a useful basis for review.
• Questions: The questions at the end of the chapters allow you to test your understanding and apply the theory.
• Bibliography for further reading: Selected references give you the opportunity to easily access material on topics that interest you the most.
• Case studies: Rich material that contributes to the connection of theory with applications and understanding the relationships of science with the real world.