After being fired, I became the light of medicine

Chapter 203 Differences between Chinese Herbal Medicines
Hearing Feng Gang's words, Zhang Yang couldn't help but smile.

As the name suggests, Chinese patent medicine is a medicine made from Chinese medicinal materials or their extracts as the main raw materials and processed through a certain process.

Compared with Western medicine, that is, chemical drugs, which have a complete scientific evaluation system of research and development, verification, clinical trials, etc. for nearly a hundred years, Chinese patent medicines have not yet established their own verification methods.
We even don’t know how to establish a relatively scientific evaluation system.

Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the main ingredients, auxiliary ingredients and guiding ingredients, emphasizes strengthening the foundation and regulating the vital energy, and emphasizes solving problems from the root by regulating human body functions.

Therefore, in the process of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, it is difficult to find one or several reasonable quantitative indicators to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the medicine like Western medicine.

To make a simple analogy:

For example, the most common chronic gastritis causes abdominal distension, abdominal pain, indigestion and even vomiting.

In Western medicine, there is a common drug for treating stomach problems called "domperidone tablets", commonly known as metoclopramide.

Taking one pill when you have stomach pain, nausea, regurgitation, or vomiting can quickly relieve stomach discomfort.

The drug's principle is to stimulate the dopamine D2 receptors in the central nervous system, inhibit the release of acetylcholine during gastrointestinal motility, thereby enhancing upper gastrointestinal motility and tension and improving the symptoms of functional dyspepsia.

At the same time, metoclopramide can also increase the threshold of the vomiting center by stimulating the serotonin receptors in the central nervous system, thereby exerting an antiemetic effect.

During this medication process, the drug concentration of metoclopramide will reach its peak in about 2 hours.
Through clinical trials, it can be monitored that the acetylcholine concentration in the human body is reduced, gastric motility is significantly increased, and vomiting in patients is reduced.

But what if you take Chinese patent medicines such as those commonly used to treat stomach problems?
For example, for the common "Weikangling Capsules", "Xiangshayangwei Pills" and "Baohe Pills", you cannot monitor obvious fluctuations in indicators through clinical trials and double-blind tests.

why?
Because the effect of traditional Chinese medicine is slow, so slow that you cannot even measure its effect with specific biochemical indicators.

Let me explain it in more detail.

Traditional Chinese medicine has always emphasized that different prescriptions should be used for different people. Even the top old Chinese medicine practitioners need to use the method of "observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation" to adjust the dosage and Chinese medicine according to the different conditions of the patients.

Even top traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are like this, so it is very difficult to standardize Chinese patent medicines to treat a certain disease.

It is even more difficult to pass clinical trials established according to Western medicine standards with clear quantitative data.

Even the well-known quick-acting heart-saving pills could not pass the FDA's Phase III clinical trial in the United States.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yang gradually put away his thoughts.

Because of this situation, the State Food and Drug Administration is relatively relaxed in its review of the listing of Chinese patent medicines. As long as it is confirmed that there are no major problems with the toxicology of the drug,
As long as the medicine does not cause obvious drug poisoning on a dead person, most prescriptions for Chinese patent medicines can be approved.

It is also because of this that compared with the rigorous, complex and high-investment research and development of new drugs, many domestic pharmaceutical companies have also focused their main efforts on the research and development of traditional Chinese medicines.

After all, there is less work, more money, and no need to determine the exact efficacy. All you need to do is find a few ancient prescriptions in ancient books, improve them slightly, and you can put them on the market to make money. Who would be willing to make innovative drugs?

This time, Zhang Yang bought the patent of a traditional cold remedy, and then hid the drug ingredients for treating "T14 protein" in the cold remedy, also taking advantage of this loophole.

"Director, you can't speak so badly of Chinese medicine. To be honest, Chinese medicine still has many good points."

"It's just that people's understanding of traditional Chinese medicine or research and development is still at an immature stage. I believe that in the future, traditional Chinese medicine can shine again."

Of course, Feng Gang just complained a few words casually, and when he heard this, he immediately laughed:
"Zhang Yang, your speaking skills are really high!"

"Well, I hope that in a few years I can see our thousands of years of traditional Chinese medicine being revived and flourishing again."

After saying that, he paused and turned the topic to "Lung Toxin Clearing Granule".

"Having said so much, would you like to take a look at the clinical trial results of the 'Lung Poison Clearing Granule'?"

"it is good!"

Zhang Yang nodded, but did not continue talking about the topic of Chinese patent medicine.

He quickly walked to Feng Gang's computer and began to carefully check the clinical data of "Lung Toxin Clearing Granules" for the past two months.

Sure enough, it was almost the same as what Feng Gang said. After two months and nearly 200 clinical trial data, this "Lung Toxin Clearing Granule" did not show obvious therapeutic effects in the biochemical indicators related to colds and coughs.

In other words, in a double-blind test, it is impossible to tell which are the experimental group and which are the control group, and the effect is not significant.

This is also one of the reasons why almost all Chinese patent medicines are difficult to pass double-blind testing.

In the clearance rate indicator of "T14 protein", the obvious difference can be seen at a glance, just like last time, and it is possible to tell at a glance which patients are in the control group and which are in the experimental group.

Zhang Yang nodded and began to look at more data in more detail.

The data results show that patients with common viral colds, that is, colds and coughs, but who have not yet developed pneumonia, only need to take "Lung Du Qing Chongji" for two days to completely eliminate the "T14 protein" in their bodies.

For those patients who have already developed pneumonia, because of the large amount of "pneumonia virus", "T14 protein" can still be detected in the body after three days of taking the medicine. However, as long as the medicine is taken continuously, and the symptoms of "pneumonia infection" disappear, the "T14 protein" in the body will also be completely eliminated.

Seeing this, Zhang Yang felt relieved.

Although "Lung Du Qing Granules" is mediocre in the treatment of colds and coughs, it is very effective in clearing "T14 protein", achieving the desired effect!

This is enough!

After a moment, he looked up at Feng Gang and said:

"Director Feng, you are right. Although the clinical trial data is mediocre, it is enough to pass the clinical trial!"

"I am about to finish the clinical trial. I would like to trouble you to submit the data to the review center!"

Feng Gang immediately waved his hand and said with a smile:
"It's too much of a bother to say that this is my job."

"Then I will organize the clinical data for you and report it to the review center!"

"Well, thank you."

Zhang Yang completed the clinical trial process and immediately submitted the clinical data to the review center.

Soon, he returned to Qingshan Pharmaceutical from the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu.
After sitting in the office and thinking for a while, he decided to call Secretary Zhou Haizhou to inform him that the "Lung Du Qing Granule" had completed clinical trials and had been submitted to the review center.

The last time they met, he left Secretary Zhou's phone number, and the call was connected shortly afterwards.

"Secretary Zhou, I'm Zhang Yang from Qingshan Pharmaceutical."

"Hello, Mr. Zhang. I noted your name. I know."

"Ah."

Zhang Yang didn't say much and went straight to the point:

"Secretary Zhou, we have developed the drug that I mentioned to you earlier to clear the 'T14 protein' and have completed clinical trials."

"Based on the nearly 200 clinical data collected in the past two months, the drug is quite effective and has a high clearance rate for the 'T14 protein' in the human body. I will send you all the clinical data later. Would you like to take a look?"

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Zhang!" Secretary Zhou did not seem very surprised on the phone, and Zhang Yang did not find it strange either.

I guess when I applied for clinical trials for "Lung Toxin Clearing Granules", some people in Beijing had already started paying attention to the clinical data of this drug, and Secretary Zhou should have also heard about the relevant data.

After hanging up the phone and putting the phone on the desk, Zhang Yang suddenly let out a long breath.

From the initial news that the incidence of "lung adenocarcinoma" was increasing from Director Dai, to the discovery of the secret that "T14 protein" could cause "lung adenocarcinoma" in the simulator,

Over the past few months, he has been worried and troubled by the "T14 protein" issue.

It’s finally okay now!

After submitting for clinical trial approval, with government intervention, the "Lung Du Qing Chongji" will most likely be approved soon.

Once approved for sale, it also means that there will be a treatment plan for the "T14 protein" remaining in the lung tissue.

In the future, even if patients are infected with the pneumonia virus, they only need to take Lung Toxin Clearing Granules for 2-3 days to completely eliminate the "T14 protein" and there will be no more worries!

As for how to get patients infected with the pneumonia virus to take "Lung Du Qing Chongji" while at the same time causing as little severe social impact as possible, Zhang Yang no longer wanted to think about it!

Anyway, I have already reported the matter and developed a drug to eliminate the "T14 protein". I have done what I should do. The rest is up to the country to consider.

Zhang Yang finally had nothing to do, and taking advantage of the rare rest time, he and Zhou Xiaomei watched a few movies together and had two hotpot meals together.

After a few days of relaxation, news suddenly came from the Food and Drug Administration's Approval Center.

The traditional Chinese medicine "Lung Duqing Granule" submitted by Qingshan Pharmaceutical has passed the clinical trial approval and entered the production approval stage.

The speed was so fast that even Director Feng Gang, who informed Zhang Yang, was surprised. However, Zhang Yang knew very well that it must be someone in Beijing who was pushing for this quickly.

Come to think of it, the fact that infection with the "T14 pneumonia virus" can induce "lung adenocarcinoma" is completely a matter of public safety. If it is brought to the public early, senior management will be much more calm when dealing with it.

Since the "Lung Toxin Clearing Granules" quickly passed the clinical trial approval, Zhang Yang could no longer sit idle. Early the next morning, he personally went to Qingshan Pharmaceutical's long-term partner, Lotus Pharmaceuticals.

At this time, He Ping, the boss of Lotus Pharmaceuticals, had been waiting in the office for a long time, and a pot of refreshing tea was brewed and placed on the coffee table.

Seeing Zhang Yang walk into the office, He Ping smiled:
"Mr. Zhang, you are here. Please take a seat. I have prepared tea for you."

On the way here, Zhang Yang had already informed He Ping in advance. As the real financial backer of Lotus Pharmaceuticals, he did not hesitate to sit down on the sofa.

After taking a sip of the fragrant new tea, he put down the teacup and got down to business:

"Old He, I mentioned to you before that we are developing a 'Lung Poison Clearing Granule', and you know the details."

"Now that the clinical trial approval has been passed, the next step is the production approval and OEM production, which will trouble you."

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, you are so polite!"

"What trouble are you talking about? Serving you is what we should do!"

He Ping's smile widened. After he finished speaking, he paused and said:
"Don't worry, we have a stable production line for Chinese patent medicines and our quality control is very strict!"

"Last time you mentioned that you had a Chinese patent medicine under development, I reserved a production line just for you two months ago, and I'm ready to apply for a production license at any time!"

"Don't worry! There will be no problem passing the approval!"

"Ok!"

Zhang Yang nodded. He felt at ease with Lao He doing this.

But after a moment, He Ping suddenly said:

"Mr. Zhang, there is one more thing... You were too busy before and I didn't communicate with you properly."

"Our 'Lung Toxin Clearing Granule' is not like other innovative drugs that are chemical agents. There are strict fixed purity requirements in the production process!"

"For example, the purity of a certain compound must be purified to more than 99.9%!"

"And this time, the Lung Du Qing Granule is a Chinese patent medicine. What grade of Chinese medicinal materials should we use? Do you have any specific requirements?"

Zhang Yang was slightly stunned, but quickly reacted.

There is another obvious difference between chemical drugs and traditional Chinese medicines, which is the selection of drug materials.

Western medicine, or chemical medicine, is essentially a compound with a higher purity obtained through chemical means, by synthesizing or extracting compounds.

The higher the purity, the fewer drug impurities, and in a sense, the better the effect.

Therefore, in the process of producing chemical drugs, there are strict standards for the purity of drug ingredients.

But Chinese patent medicine is different.

Chinese medicinal materials do not have such strict standards and are generally divided into top-grade, mid-grade and lower-grade.

The quality of the same type of medicine may vary greatly depending on its place of origin and year of growth, such as astragalus, which is a very common Chinese medicinal material.

The effects of Astragalus are to replenish qi and raise yang, consolidate the exterior and stop sweating, as well as eliminate water and relieve swelling.

Therefore, Astragalus is used in people with physical weakness who need to replenish Yang Qi, or who sweat easily after long-term sleep, and in some patients with kidney disease.

However, truly high-quality Astragalus requires at least 3-4 years of growth, but the Astragalus used in most Chinese patent medicines on the market is only 1-2 years old.

One to two years old Astragalus plants are still growing and adapting to the environment, and their effective ingredients such as astragaloside polysaccharides and astragaloside I are obviously insufficiently accumulated, so their efficacy is much worse than that of 3-4 years old Astragalus!

Of course, the price will vary with the years.

This is also the reason why there are many Chinese medicine powders on the market, and they are all used to treat coughs and colds, but some brands and manufacturers are much more expensive.

In addition, for example, yam, white chrysanthemum, finished products, and coptis chinensis are also divided by their place of origin. For example, most of the coptis chinensis produced in Sichuan Province is exported to Japan, and there is very little in China.

Zhang Yang thought about it for a moment.

Although the main therapeutic effect of "Lung Du Qing Granule" is not to treat colds, it is Qingshan Pharmaceutical's brand after all, and we cannot damage its reputation.

"Lao He, if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have really forgotten about it!"

"All the Chinese medicines in our 'Lung Toxin Clearing Granule' are made of top-grade medicinal materials!"

As soon as the words fell, He Ping was a little surprised!
"Mr. Zhang, all of them are made of top-grade medicinal materials. How much do you want for a box?!"

(End of this chapter)