Chapter 307 - 219: The Chief Scientist Finds a Kindred Spirit

Chapter 307: Chapter 219: The Chief Scientist Finds a Kindred Spirit

The meeting ended on a sour note. Xie Bin and Xu Kunlin made a rather undignified exit from the Jin Pharmaceutical Group.

Only Jin Yihong, Lou Musaang, Jia Jun, Deng Feifei, and Wu Ting remained in the office.

After watching Xie Bin and Xu Kunlin leave,

Jin Yihong, Jia Jun, and Lou Musaang all wore grave expressions.

"Feifei, please take Wu Ting to the waiting room next door for a bit. We need to have a quick meeting."

After all, this new drug’s development was crucial to the future of the Jin Pharmaceutical Group, so Jin Yihong was being very cautious.

"Dr. Wu, my apologies. I’ll have Feifei keep you company for a while."

Jin Yihong held Wu Ting in high regard. Beyond maintaining confidentiality for the meeting, she also wanted to create an opportunity for Deng Feifei and Wu Ting to be alone together.

After the two young people left, Jin Yihong sat down wearily.

Lately, it wasn’t just Jia Jun and Lou Musaang; Jin Yihong herself was under immense psychological pressure.

The pharmaceutical industry was fiercely competitive, and a company’s drug R&D capabilities largely determined its competitiveness and capacity for sustained growth.

However, new drug development was an arduous and lengthy process. While success promised high returns, it also demanded high investment, carried high risks, and had a long cycle.

Compared to a mature international leader like the Pfizer Group, Jin Yihong was under enormous pressure. The Jin Pharmaceutical Group’s drug development efforts were hampered by technological complexities, limitations in R&D and project management, and the uncertainties of both domestic and international business environments.

Looking at her two top lieutenants, Jin Yihong asked:

"Jia Jun, Musaang, what are your thoughts on Xie Bin and Xu Kunlin’s sudden visit today?"

Jia Jun thought for a moment.

"I believe their talk of an acquisition was a pretense. Their real goal was to test our position."

"Clearly, they came prepared. Their knowledge of the progress on our Yangzheng Xiujie Pill project was comprehensive and detailed."

"My feeling is that any talk of them launching a competing product for the Yangzheng Xiujie Pill is also a smokescreen. It’s highly likely they’re aiming directly for our core project: the new anti-tumor drug, Banzhe."

Jia Jun had her reasons for this speculation:

"First of all, based on our current progress, the Yangzheng Xiujie Pill project has nearly completed its clinical trial phase. We’re about to enter the New Drug Application stage. If they were to start trying to counter our Yangzheng Xiujie Pill now, there’s simply not enough time. Their R&D cycle wouldn’t be able to keep up."

"And once our new drug’s application is approved and it’s on the market, our group’s production lines can achieve a full rollout within six months. Given the efficacy of our Yangzheng Xiujie Pill, it’s certain to capture a substantial market share. By the time any competing product of theirs is launched, years will have passed. At that point, our Banzhe Project will have nearly completed its own clinical trials..."

"So, this visit was all about the Banzhe Project from the start."

After she finished speaking, Jia Jun looked over at Lou Musaang.

Lou Musaang was the Chief Scientist of the Jin Pharmaceutical Group and had been Jia Jun’s senior in school. The entire Yangzheng Xiujie Pill project had been initiated by Lou Musaang, who also led the initial drug discovery and screening before Jia Jun took the reins.

And compared to the Yangzheng Xiujie Pill, the Banzhe Project had a much broader scope and greater potential, covering the treatment of malignant tumors such as: primary liver cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, malignant lymphoma, gynecological malignancies (ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, choriocarcinoma, etc.), thyroid cancer, bone cancer, and nasopharyngeal cancer...

It was also the Jin Pharmaceutical Group’s core project, a ten-year undertaking with an investment in the tens of billions.

Despite her sickly complexion, Lou Musaang’s eyes were incredibly bright, revealing a steely resolve:

"I agree with Jia Jun’s assessment. Currently, the Banzhe Project has successfully passed the drug discovery and screening phase and has officially entered the preclinical research stage... I’ve already begun the pharmaceutical studies, and we’ve nailed down the preparation process for the raw drug substance..."

"Based on our current progress, we’re preparing to begin optimizing the formulation’s preparation process, as well as conducting stability studies..."

"I’m confident that with a little more time and funding, we can move into the clinical trial phase."

Listening to Lou Musaang, Jin Yihong understood where her two scientists stood.

"I understand. But, Musaang, you must take care of yourself. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself."

Jin Yihong was worried about Lou Musaang; after all, she suffered from a congenital illness.

"President Jin, I know my own body’s limits. Even if I collapse, it will only be after I’ve completed the Banzhe Project!"

Jin Yihong looked at Lou Musaang with a pang of sympathy and promised,

"Jia Jun, Musaang, I want you to proceed with your research boldly and without reservation. I’m going to adjust the company’s strategic direction. I had originally planned to wait until the Yangzheng Xiujie Pill was launched before concentrating our resources on the Banzhe Project."

"But now, with the Pfizer Group eyeing us like a tiger, it’s clear we need to accelerate our R&D. I’m preparing to conduct another round of financing soon and simultaneously increase our investment in the Banzhe Project."

After the three of them finished their discussion,

Jin Yihong brought up Wu Ting:

"Jia Jun, Musaang, what do you think of that young man, Wu Ting?"

Jia Jun had looked into Wu Ting’s projects and had also read his paper in *Cell*. She commented,

"The young man is quite talented, but mostly in the realms of clinical medicine and immunological theory. When it comes to pharmaceutical R&D, I believe he’s still a layman. The so-called new drug he proposed in his paper on Hepatitis B-related primary liver cancer, ’Fengmu Tiada,’ is little more than a castle in the sky..."