After being fired, I became the light of medicine

Chapter 21: Project Seedlings
National Innovative Drug Support Center?
Zhang Yang looked up at Ren Xiaomin. This name was a bit niche and he was indeed not familiar with it.

Ren Xiaomin exhaled lightly and explained:

"This is a new department established by the Ministry of Science and Technology last year. You usually focus on drug research, so it's normal that you haven't heard of it."

“Simply put, its purpose is to support the research and development of innovative drugs in China.”

"As you know, the development of innovative drugs in China is slow. Compared with developed countries abroad, we are almost at the bottom."

Zhang Yang nodded slightly. What Ren Xiaomin said was the reality of the domestic pharmaceutical industry.

On the one hand, domestic research on basic life sciences is weak, with obvious gaps in technology and theory.

On the other hand, compared with the huge investment, long cycle and extremely high risk of research and development of innovative drugs, making generic drugs and traditional Chinese medicines in China not only has high profits and short cycles, but also almost no risks.

Therefore, except for a few large pharmaceutical companies such as Hengrui and BeiGene, almost no one is willing to do this thankless task.

This has led to the current slow development of the domestic innovative drug industry, which has become the country's biggest shortcoming.

Ren Xiaomin continued:

"The country has also noticed this and has set up an innovative drug support center and launched an incubation program called the 'Seedling Plan'."

"The Seedling Project?"

"Ah."

"Simply put, all innovative drug projects of domestic pharmaceutical companies can apply to participate in this plan. As long as they are approved by the expert group of the support center, they can get a considerable incubation fund, which is enough for the new drug to complete clinical trials."

"Moreover, regardless of whether the new drug can eventually pass clinical trials and be marketed, the money does not need to be repaid."

Zhang Yang's expression froze for a moment, but he said nothing, waiting for Ren Xiaomin to continue.

"Of course, it is for this reason that the review of the 'Seedling Project' is very strict. Over the past year or so, the publicly released data passing rate is only 9.8%."

"In addition, the 'He Miao Plan' has a mandatory requirement, which is that once you join the 'He Miao Plan', if a new drug is successfully launched in the future, the Medical Insurance Bureau has the right to unilaterally include this innovative drug in the centralized procurement list.

And the purchase price will not be higher than 30% of the retail price, or the purchase price will not be higher than 200% of the production cost. ”

"That is to say, if our 'Qingshan Avatrombopag Tablets' are launched in the future, and the retail price is 1000 yuan, the Medical Insurance Bureau has the right to purchase it at the lowest price of 300 yuan."

“The agreement is for 10 years.”

Zhang Yang understood everything, but there was no obvious change on his face.

To put it simply, this is a bet agreement.

The support center can select innovative drugs they see for investment. If they fail to pass clinical trials, then the money will be considered a loss for the company, but the pharmaceutical company can at least gain some experience from it.

If the drug can pass the third phase and be launched on the market by chance, some of the initial costs can be recovered from later drug purchases.

This approach is actually quite fair. There is no question of who is losing out or gaining. It can even be considered a win-win situation.

However, the situation of "Qingshan Avaqubopa" is slightly different.

Zhang Yang is very confident that with the therapeutic effect of "Qingshan Afa", it is only a matter of time before it completes the third phase of clinical trials and is put on the market for sale.

Once joining the "He Miao Project", it is obvious that it will have a certain impact on the profits and pricing of new drugs after they are launched on the market in the future.

Ren Xiaomin, who was standing by, also saw Zhang Yang's thoughts:
"So Zhang Yang, you have to carefully weigh the pros and cons."

"Also, I must remind you that although we all think that the Phase II clinical data of Qingshan Afa has a high probability of passing the 'He Miao Project', if we submit the application and it is ultimately not approved,"

"Then we will be in a very difficult situation in the future."

Zhang Yang nodded heavily and began to think seriously. After a few minutes, he moved his body slightly, as if he had made a choice.

"Brother Ren, I have decided to apply to join the 'Seedling Project'. I think as long as the people at the support center are not blind, they should not reject our application."

"Although they will take advantage of us, the Medical Insurance Bureau is also serving the people. It is better for us to give profits to the people than to let those pharmaceutical companies take advantage of us!"

"Okay, I'll prepare the materials now, and I should be able to submit the application tomorrow."

Ren Xiaomin agreed immediately.

……

Just when Zhang Yang and Ren Xiaomin made the decision, other pharmaceutical companies also noticed clues in the approval document for the Phase III clinical trial of Qingshan Avatrombopag Tablets.

Pharmaceutical companies were both surprised and delighted. With 1800 participants in the trial, everyone knew that Tsingshan Pharmaceutical had been forced into a desperate situation and that it was impossible for it to continue pushing forward the Phase III clinical trial.

For a while, undercurrents surged and everyone wanted to take advantage of the situation.

But to everyone's surprise, Zhang Yang did not seem to be in a hurry and seemed not to be affected at all by the Phase III clinical trial approval.

Just when everyone was puzzled, two days later, a press release about Qingshan Avaqubopa's application to join the "Seedling Project" suddenly appeared on the Internet.

Many pharmaceutical companies then realized that Qingshan Pharmaceutical had attempted to obtain funding through the "National Innovative Drug Support Center", but everyone was still not optimistic.

Everyone knows that it is very difficult for the "He Miao Project" to pass approval, and very few people can actually get the support funds. Although the clinical data of "Qingshan Avatrombopag" is good, the final result is still unknown.

In the Beifeng Pharmaceutical office, Ding Jian also learned the news.

"You won't cry until you see the coffin!"

"I thought I had you guys cornered, but I didn't expect you would resort to this trick!"

"They would rather lose the profits of the next ten years than sell the patent to me! They are two ungrateful people!"

In the office, Ding Jian said coldly, and everyone could hear the displeasure in his words.

Not only Ding Jian, but He Youcai standing beside him also couldn't help but sigh heavily, full of loss.

Recalling last night when the number of Phase III clinical trial participants came out, he immediately called Zhang Yang. Zhang Yang's attitude had made him think that the matter should be settled, but he didn't expect...

Alas, something unexpected happened in the blink of an eye!

But now is not the time to sigh. The most important thing right now is what to do next?
"Boss? Do you think we should contact Zhang Yang again?"

"Their 'Qingshan Avatrombopag Tablets' Phase II clinical data is very good, I wonder what if...

If they really pass the 'Seedling Plan' and get the incubation funds from the support center, then all our efforts will be wasted, and there will be no chance of turning this around!"

Ding Jian's face became even gloomier.

After two full minutes, he slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"Don't be anxious. The more critical the moment, the more we must not reveal any flaws! You have to know that this is their last struggle!"

As he spoke, a hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes:
"Besides, do you think I'm the only one with people in the review center?"

He Youcai was shocked.

……

(End of this chapter)