Medicinal chemistry is a scientific discipline focused on the discovery, design, synthesis, and development of pharmaceutical drugs. It involves the study of the chemical properties of molecules and their interactions with biological systems, with the goal of identifying and developing new therapeutic compounds for treating diseases. Medicinal chemists work to understand the structure-activity relationships of bioactive molecules, optimize drug candidates for specific targets, and improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of potential drugs. This interdisciplinary field combines principles of chemistry, pharmacology, biochemistry, and molecular biology to advance drug discovery and development.