Chapter 586: Developing Generic Drugs

Brother, can your company develop a drug to treat leukemia? Imported versions are too expensive—one box costs twenty-four thousand. The patient who wanted to jump off a building today did so because they couldn't afford the drug cost.

Gleevec?

Yeah, brother, how do you know? Could it be that you're also developing related drugs?

What a joke—if our company had that technology, would we still be ST?

Chen Yang looked at his sister, laughing and crying at the same time. If Heavenly Opening Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. had the technology to develop Gleevec—even just the technology to produce a generic—he would be laughing in his sleep.

Speaking of which, he only learned from a previously popular movie in his past life that leukemia anti-cancer drugs could be so outrageously expensive.

But after looking up the relevant information, he also felt the price was normal. They spent several billion dollars developing the drug, and it only has a twenty-year patent. If they didn't sell it at a premium, the company would eventually go bankrupt.

Of course, Chen Yang also knew: in all-powerful India, there were already generics that cost only a few hundred bucks. If domestic patients could purchase India's Gleevec generic like the protagonist of that popular movie, they could still survive.

"Brother, Gleevec's profits are so high—your company could buy their patent. That would both make money and drive down domestic drug prices, easing the people's burden—what a great idea!" Zhao Qian again tried to persuade her cousin.

"Qianqian, Gleevec's domestic patent still has fourteen years left. Buying their patent would start at at least one billion. Moreover, domestic drug profits are so high, they might not be willing to sell."

"Really? What should we do then? We can't rely on your donations every year," Zhao Qian said, resting her chin on her hands, looking at Chen Yang with a worried expression.

Chen Yang also felt powerless about this. Domestic Gleevec sells at such a high price that the related agents surely have huge vested interests. If he dared to lower Gleevec's price, he would surely offend the powerful figures behind those agents.

If the other side has a strong background, whether he can survive domestically is a question.

However, Chen Yang still came up with a solution. He said to Zhao Qian:

"Qianqian, actually India has Gleevec generics that are very cheap. You could have patients buy the medicine there."

Hearing that, Zhao Qian hesitated a bit and said, "Brother, can the generic's effect be the same as the original?"

Chen Yang said, "Generics are definitely not as good as the original, but as far as I know, they still work on the patient's condition."

Zhao Qian asked again, "Brother, is doing this illegal?"

Chen Yang laughed, "As long as it's not for profit and just for personal use, it's definitely fine. Besides, when your life is at stake, who has the energy to worry about legality?"

Hearing that, Zhao Qian also thought Chen Yang made sense. After thinking a moment, she said, "Brother, if I let patients use your sponsored money to buy generics, would you mind?"

Chen Yang slowly shook his head and said, "As long as they buy these drugs to treat their own illness, I won't overly concern myself with the exact source. However, from the perspective of chairman of a listed pharmaceutical company, I personally do not support patients buying generics."

Zhao Qian gazed at Chen Yang, nodding thoughtfully. As a medical student, she also knew that if most patients chose to buy lower-cost generics, pharmaceutical companies would lose large sales revenues, leading to a funding shortage for developing new products.

Once lacking sufficient funding, drug companies might be unable to carry out necessary research and development, making new drugs and treatments hard to bring to market.

If this continues, progress in the entire medical industry will be hindered. If new cases arise again, patients may face the predicament of having no medicine to cure them.

"Brother, why not spend more money on R&D instead? We can't keep being strangled by foreigners."

Chen Yang gave a wry smile and said, "Qianqian, you think too highly of your brother. I'm just an investor; my medical knowledge isn't even as good as yours, so how could I take on such a heavy task? If you have that intention, you'd better persuade your school's advisor. As long as they're willing to try developing it, I can sponsor part of the funding."

"Really?" Zhao Qian's worried expression vanished instantly. Because her advisor President Wang had indeed mentioned wanting to research Gleevec generics and had hinted several times for her to ask Chen Yang for sponsorship. But because the funding amount was too large, she felt embarrassed to bring it up to Chen Yang.

"Brother, our school has a research project related to Gleevec generics, and it's just lacking funds. Can you sponsor some?"

Chen Yang never expected President Wang to actually be interested in researching Gleevec generics. Curiously he asked, "President Wang researches Gleevec generics—even if successful, they couldn't be sold domestically in the short term. Isn't he worried about wasting time and money?"

Zhao Qian sighed and said, "The teacher knows this problem, which is why they don't want to use school funds—lest they give others a handle."

Chen Yang thought for a moment and said, "Qianqian, tell President Wang that I can invite them to our company to develop products under the name of Heavenly Opening Pharmaceutical. All R&D expenses will be borne by our company, and we will also pay salaries and bonuses to the relevant R&D personnel."

Hearing that, Zhao Qian immediately called President Wang and conveyed Chen Yang's words in full.

After negotiation, President Wang agreed to Chen Yang's collaboration invitation.

However, he also proposed to Chen Yang the suggestion of buying the domestic production patent for Gleevec, so they could legitimately develop related generics.

Chen Yang merely gave a perfunctory response. Before he had investigated the Gleevec-related interest chain, he would not make any decision lightly.

After dinner, Chen Yang received a call from Chen Bing, who said his father-in-law had already overcome the danger and thanked Chen Yang for arranging connections at East River Medical University Affiliated Hospital.

Chen Yang said a few words of concern for his father-in-law, then hung up. As long as Zhong Lin's father-in-law had survived the danger, his duty as a friend was fulfilled.

After returning home, Chen Yang called He Wanqiu, the CEO of Heavenly Opening Pharmaceutical, and asked her to liaise with President Wang on the joint development of Gleevec generics.

Regarding the ten million yuan sponsorship for those patients at East River Medical University Affiliated Hospital, Chen Yang decided to have the Ordinary People Agricultural Products Trading Company handle it.

The latter needs to build a reputation domestically—not only by providing good service, but also by doing more charitable activities. Such charitable activities sponsoring terminally ill patients are exactly what the company needs.