Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 177：Pharmaceutical Research Institute

Four days later, Long Lao received the approval for the pharmaceutical research and development project. Over the past few days, Number One had been in constant communication with the officials overseeing the approval process, drawing their attention to this project.

After reviewing the annual data on imported cancer medications, they were shocked. The import of just one class of cancer drugs amounted to nearly 100 billion yuan annually in Dragon Country. What was even more alarming was that the figures were rising every year, and all this money was flowing directly out of the country. Moreover, these cancer drugs were exceedingly expensive, leaving many cancer patients in Dragon Country unable to afford them.

Before the situation became even more dire, the senior leadership in Dragon Country decided to approve Long Lao's application. While Long Lao wasn't particularly skilled in pharmaceutical research, he was well-known and, more importantly, willing to undertake the task. Finding someone highly proficient in pharmaceutical R&D in Dragon Country was no easy feat. Many graduates from pharmaceutical programs either entered other industries or moved abroad to pursue research. The country's pharmaceutical companies were few, and those dedicated to cancer drug development were even rarer.

For most businesses, the priority was profit. Researching cancer drugs required immense funding, a long timeline, and even then, success was not guaranteed. It simply wasn't a financially viable venture. Hence, many pharmaceutical companies avoided R&D altogether.

When Long Lao received the approval documents, he also learned that the Kyoto Huakang Pharmaceutical Company was engaged in cancer drug research. Long Lao, already troubled by the lack of technical staff, decided to visit Huakang Pharmaceutical Company.

Initially, he had considered asking his student, Jiang Fan, for help. However, when he called Jiang Fan, he learned that Jiang had successfully developed the fuel for a thousand-ton rocket booster. Overcome with excitement, Long Lao gave Jiang the mission to focus on the rocket booster research, without mentioning his own cancer diagnosis to avoid distracting him.

...

Kyoto Huakang Pharmaceutical Company was now in a state of shutdown. The once bustling factory had turned eerily quiet. The streets around the factory were littered with trash, a stark contrast to the company's former glory. Standing there, Ren Dayuan was filled with mixed emotions. He couldn't help but reflect on the company's past success and wonder if, given the chance, he would still choose to pursue cancer drug research. But one thing was certain: had he not undertaken this research, the company would not be facing bankruptcy now.

Lost in thought, he glanced toward the two-story white laboratory in the east. "I should at least pay a visit... say my goodbyes," he murmured.

Entering the lab building, Ren Dayuan walked through the first floor, where the equipment was still in place, though the research staff were long gone. Documents lay scattered on the floor. He bent down to pick them up and placed them neatly on the lab table. Just as he turned to leave, a gust of wind blew the papers back to the floor.

Suddenly, he heard a noise from the second floor. Ignoring the scattered papers, he climbed the stairs.

In one of the research rooms, he found Song Zhe, dressed in a white lab coat, deeply focused on his experiments.

"Song, you haven't left yet?" Ren Dayuan asked.

Song Zhe looked up, startled, but smiled broadly as he held up some experimental results. "Ren, this is my research on the new drug molecule NM-9. I'm now 80% confident that we can develop a cancer drug!"

Ren Dayuan took the papers, his gaze lingering on the excited Song Zhe. He didn't know what to say. But at this moment, he knew he could not provide the funds to continue the research.

"Xiao Song, I've failed you," he said with a heavy heart.

"Ren, I've been thinking about it. It's okay if the company shuts down. But we've developed the new drug molecule NM-9. We can still find investors! I refuse to believe that in such a vast country as Dragon Country, no one will invest!"

Ren Dayuan truly didn't want to discourage Song Zhe, but the young man had always focused on the technology and had little understanding of the pharmaceutical market. In Dragon Country, few were willing to invest in drug development, let alone cancer research. Drug R&D was not easy. Their company had spent 6 billion over three years and still ended up bankrupt.

"Xiao Song, you should take your drug molecule abroad," Ren suggested.

"Abroad?" Song Zhe looked shocked, but quickly understood Ren Dayuan's meaning. With this cancer drug molecule, he would be welcomed by pharmaceutical companies abroad. But once the drug was developed, it would no longer be relevant to Dragon Country.

"Ren, this is Dragon Country's pharmaceutical achievement. I won't take it out of the country," Song Zhe said firmly.

At that moment, Ren Dayuan's phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Ren Dayuan from Huakang Pharmaceutical?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"I am Long Zhen Guo from the Dragon Country Pharmaceutical Research Institute."