Chapter 309 - 219: The Chief Scientist Finds a Kindred Spirit (Part 3)

Chapter 309: Chapter 219: The Chief Scientist Finds a Kindred Spirit (Part 3)

Wu Ting hadn’t even begun his research, yet he was already considering various risk management strategies. Many of the points he raised were the exact pitfalls Lou Musaang and Jia Jun had stumbled into when they were young and inexperienced.

They had only learned these painful lessons by looking back and summarizing their experiences. They never expected this young man to possess such depth and breadth of thought, his considerations both comprehensive and seasoned.

Although neither of them said it aloud, their posture, gaze, and attitude were all slowly changing.

Their interactions with Wu Ting also began to feel more like a mutual resonance, an exchange between equals.

"Phase three is the clinical trial stage. Before a new drug is approved for the market, it must undergo Phase I, II, and III clinical trials. In this stage, the drug is administered directly to humans to evaluate its safety and efficacy..."

"Phase four is divided into two aspects: applying for clinical research and applying for production and marketing. Reaching this stage essentially marks the success of the new drug’s development."

"The fifth stage, the production phase within the drug development cycle, primarily includes pilot scale-up, mass production, and quality control..."

"The sixth stage is the marketing and post-market surveillance phase... The main issues to address are: (1) Uncertainty of market adoption time, (2) Risk of new drug substitution, and (3) Risk of adverse drug reactions."

"...I believe that although extensive market analysis is done before drug development, there’s a time lag between a new product entering the market and being accepted by the public. If this lag is too long, it can lead to poor recovery of R&D funds. Therefore, after a new drug enters the market, the company needs to increase its marketing efforts, training doctors, patients, and distributors on aspects like pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacodynamics, and clinical applications to improve the drug’s market acceptance..."

"...Regarding the risk of adverse reactions, the company should establish an adverse reaction management program and continue with Phase IV clinical studies after the drug is on the market to closely monitor its safety and efficacy..."

When Wu Ting reached this point, it wasn’t just the two scientists; even Jin Yihong and Deng Feifei were listening intently.

His insights, especially regarding what happens after a new drug enters the market, deeply impressed the four of them, each coming from different professional roles.

The impression Wu Ting gave them was that of a seasoned R&D manager.

Finally, Wu Ting concluded his presentation and said humbly,

"Those are just some of my thoughts and humble opinions on the full new drug development cycle. President Jin, President Lou, President Jia, please forgive my simplistic take on it."

His voice faded.

Lou Musaang looked at Wu Ting and began to applaud in amazement.

Jia Jun and Jin Yihong also expressed their highest praise for his performance and insights.

"Dr. Wu, I never imagined you had such profound insights into the field of new drug development. If I didn’t know that you and Feifei just started your own business, I would have thought you were a colleague of mine—a chief scientist at my level..."

Lou Musaang gave him the highest possible praise, and her interest in him was piqued.

"Dr. Wu, Jia Jun and I are usually quite busy, so when Feifei tried to schedule a meeting before, I had to refuse. I’m truly sorry about that."

"However, after meeting you today, Dr. Wu, and having this discussion, I’ve come to understand that you have a truly profound knowledge of and passion for pharmaceuticals. From now on, if you need anything or have any questions, feel free to come find me anytime..."

Lou Musaang could tell the difference between someone cramming at the last minute and someone who had genuinely spent a great deal of time in deep thought.

Wu Ting’s insights were unique and profound, winning her over completely. It was as if she had met a younger, healthier version of herself, one with even greater potential and more far-reaching ambitions.

After all, she had carefully studied Wu Ting’s thesis. Before, she thought he was just acting on a whim, but now she realized she was wrong. This young man genuinely wanted to personally develop a new drug—one even more radical than her current Banzhe Project—to completely cure primary liver cancer caused by hepatitis B!

Lou Musaang decided to help him.

Lou Musaang even did the unthinkable: she took out her old-fashioned phone and added Wu Ting on her messaging app.

Jia Jun and Jin Yihong, who were standing to the side, were dumbfounded. ’Is this really Lou Musaang? The woman who’s completely oblivious to social niceties and devotes her entire life to research?’

Deng Feifei felt a pang of envy. After all this time, even she had always had to find Lou Musaang in person.

"By the way, have you thought about the preparation of the lead compound for Fengmu Tiada?"

Lou Musaang’s interest was piqued, and she dove directly into a deeper conversation.

Wu Ting couldn’t have been happier to discuss this. He had been looking for a domestic scientist who specialized in the theory behind Locust Tree Ear Granules.

Wu Ting thought for a moment, then combined and integrated the raw materials from Jia Jun’s and Lou Musaang’s formulas, while also adding Locust Tree Ear Fungus:

"Actually, I have done some preliminary research on this... The reason I chose Fengmu Tiada as the name for my new drug comes from an ancient medical text: ’The liver is the organ of wind and wood; its qi rises and flourishes, loving free flow and detesting depression...’"

"I’ve studied some related formulas from ancient texts and selected several raw materials that I plan to refine: Huangqi, Ligustrum Fruit, ginseng, Curcuma, Lingzhi mushroom, Gynostemma, fried Atractylodes, and Half-branch Lotus... Mimosa, Acanthopanax Senticosus, Curcuma, Bear Gall Powder, ginseng, Sanling, Cornelian Cherry, and licorice... And one more ingredient, Locust Tree Ear Fungus..."

"It’s just that I only caught a quick glimpse of it before, and I’ve forgotten the source of the ancient medical formula that uses Locust Tree Ear Fungus. It’s a small regret..."

Hearing Wu Ting talk about the raw materials for refining and extracting the lead compound, and how he was seeking answers from ancient National Medicine texts, Lou Musaang felt as if she had been struck by lightning!

She was so excited that a flush of color appeared on her pale face. She lost her composure slightly as she stared at Wu Ting.

As a descendant of a National Medical Family, Lou Musaang’s two projects followed the exact same line of thinking and research direction. She had studied numerous ancient formulas, combined them with pharmacological principles, and ultimately screened for the lead compounds for the Banzhe Project and the Yangzheng Xiujie Pill project...

But she had never thought of another famous formula, or its unique ingredient: Locust Tree Ear Fungus!

Of course, this was just one line of thought. Finding the final lead compound would still require thousands upon thousands of experiments.

Lou Musaang had already poured her heart and soul into the Banzhe Project; she couldn’t possibly scrap it and start over.

But in Wu Ting, she saw real hope.

Lou Musaang sensed that she had lost her composure, so she took a moment to steady herself.

She planned to have a proper private conversation with Wu Ting later. She would devote all the energy she had, outside of the Banzhe Project, to him, helping him walk a path that was more profound, more radical, and more expansive than her own.

"Dr. Wu, I am in complete agreement with your line of thinking and ideas. As for the National Medicine formula with Locust Tree Ear Fungus you mentioned, it exists within my family’s medical traditions. Unfortunately, the book is a rare edition. In a few days, when I go back to my ancestral hall, I will hand-copy that formula for you."

"Also, I happen to know that the family in Fan City with the most ingenious and extensive experience in using Locust Tree Ear Fungus is the Zhao Family. They are also a National Medical Family..."

Lou Musaang looked at Wu Ting, thinking what a coincidence it was.

"Dr. Wu, aren’t you from Fan City First Hospital? Do you know the director of the National Medical Department, Zhao Jun?"

"Zhao Jun is my aunt’s husband, and he is the heir of the Zhao Family. When it comes to the use of Locust Tree Ear Fungus, he is a true master... However, Zhao Jun is a very Zen-like and aloof person; he tends to look down on ordinary people. Only those he personally approves of have a chance to receive his guidance and teachings."

"Zhao Jun from the National Medical Department?"

Wu Ting was dumbfounded. He knew Director Zhao all too well.

’He’s actually Lou Musaang’s aunt’s husband? Now that I think about it, it makes sense. Zhao Jun is just like a reclusive master. Good thing I’ve already won him over.’

Wu Ting decided to go talk to Director Zhao when he got back. It seemed his Fengmu Tiada was within reach.

After that, Lou Musaang and Wu Ting engaged in a lively back-and-forth. The two reluctantly ended their conversation.

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for completing a deep exchange with Lou Musaang, Jia Jun, and Jin Yihong. You have gained extreme favorability from Lou Musaang, who now considers you a kindred spirit. You have obtained a trait from Lou Musaang: Lead Compound Screening Experience (Purple). Lou Musaang’s ability to screen and prepare lead compounds is at the top level in Jin Country, especially in the field of ancient traditional medicine formulas.]

[You have obtained a trait from Jia Jun: Pharmaceutical Research Experience (Purple). Includes active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) preparation processes, structural confirmation, formulation processes, quality standards, testing methods, packaging material selection, and stability studies.]

Wu Ting hadn’t expected to gain so much from this trip to the Jin Pharmaceutical Group.