This course is designed to present basic principles for understanding the rationale behind development of drug therapy with consideration of the factors involved in individual variability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics. Topics will include: dose-response, drug efficacy and potency, drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, the effects of liver and kidney disease on dose-response, drugs in the young, the elderly and pregnancy. In addition, guest lecturers from industry and the FDA will discuss drug development from their respective points of view.