This book introduces the principles and practices of modern medicinal chemistry and covers all aspects of drug discovery from the initial lead to final development. It teaches how to convert a lead compound into a potential drug and provides recent case histories as examples of successes. Medicinal Chemistry is unique in dealing with the subject in such a practical way and is the only book currently available to bring together all areas of the subject in one volume. This breadth of coverage is supplemented by references to specialist monographs and reviews, where the reader can find more detail on specific topics of interest if required. Medicinal Chemistry is essential reading for students studying medicinal chemistry, as it provides a grounding in all the required disciplines and subjects. It will also be of great interest to chemists, biochemists and pharmacologists either already working in or contemplating a career in the pharmaceutical and allied industries.