Department of Drug Technology

Head of the department – Doctor of Medicine H. V. Topchyan

Pharmaceutical Technology department was established in 1974. The department was headed by

    prof. T. S. Tadevosyan (1974-1989)
prof. T.L. Virabyan (1989-1996)
associate prof. A.Ye. Sahakyan (1996-1998)
prof. H.V. Topchyan (1998-present)

At the department the educational process for pharmaceutical students is organized in three languages – Armenian, Russian and English.
Third-year students take «Compounding of drug dosage forms»  course 2-semester which ends up by oral exam and educational practice.
Fourth year students take «Pharmaceutical manufacturing» cycle classes which ends up by oral exam.
The subjects are taught in the department as well as in the pharmacy settings and pharmaceutical factories. According to curriculum the teaching material is presented to students during lectures and practical classes.
« Compounding of drug dosage forms » course for English and Russian speaking students is scheduled in  the fifth and sixth terms,  which ends up by oral exam and «Pharmaceutical manufacturing» course is scheduled in the seventh and the eighth terms which ends up by oral exam at the end of the cycle.  During the ninth and the tenth terms students have «Pharmaceutical Technology»;  «Pharmaceutical Biotechnology» and «Pharmaceutical Cosmetology» classes.

After doing the Bachelor’s Degree students may continue their education in Master’s for a year. According to the corresponding curriculum the following subjects are taught such as:  «Pharmaceutical technology»,  «Pharmaceutical cosmetology»,  «Pharmaceutical biotechnology» which  provide deeper knowledge of specialized subjects.
To enhance educational quality the department also carries out training courses in the pharmaceutical organizations:
•    «Liqvor» Ltd
•    «Esco Pharm» Ltd
•    «Arpimed» Ltd

     “Vipeco AM” LLC

• «Levon and Lamara» pharmacy, Ltd
  •    «Magtoni» pharmacy, Ltd
  •    «Natali-pharm» pharmacy, Ltd

Young professionals are employed at the department, who take part in the scientific research of the department.
Scientific research is done in accordance with the following direction «Technological processes of extraction of biologically active substances from crude drugs and investigation of their pharmacological activity».
Several methods of extraction of biologically active substances from medicinal herbs were

developed at the department, as well as technological processes of nutritional supplement and herbal drug preparation were studied.
To investigate hypolipidemic, antiischemic, antioxidant, retinoprotective properties of some medicinal herbs experimental models of hyperlipidemia and local ischemia, as well as several methods allowing to study various biochemical parameters of fat and carbohydrate metabolism, were established.

The antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal effects of various plants of the Flora of Armenia were studied, based on which new dosage forms and new combinations were developed and created. The therapeutic significance of lactic acid bacteria has been studied, and they have also been used in the creation of various medicines. Students also participate in the department’s research activities, which are summarized in the form of theses and articles. Faculty members of the department participate annually in international conferences of pharmacists, as well as in professional training programs.

Educational and scientific works are published annually by the staff of the department. Faculty members of the department have participated many times in different international conferences .

At the department there are 11 employees – 1 professor, 2 associate professors (PhDs of chemical and pharmaceutical sciences), 4 lecturers, 3 assistant professors and 1 laboratory assistant.