Chapter 71: The Conqueror of AIDS (5)

The conference room at the Conrad was filled with silence. Everyone was confused because it was such an outlandish idea.

Tedros was the first one to speak and break the silence.

“First of all, our organization does not seek profit,” he said. “The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the UN for healthcare. It is our job to guide and coordinate international health affairs to ultimately improve health universally. Your project to eradicate HIV… Of course we will do it. But what I’m curious about is…”

Tedros bit his lip.

“Is that really possible? You said you would eradicate HIV, but the idea of making a vaccine is shocking, but to lower the production cost to 0.1 percent of the current treatment?”

“Both ideas are possible. We will develop the vaccine using the facilities at A-Gen and start clinical trials this year. Karamchand can produce the treatment in mass quantities.”

“About that treatment. You said it was called Karampia? The one we are selling.” Sachet interrupted and asked.

“Yes,” Young-Joon replied.

“You said that you will synthesize the drug within yeast cells?”

“To be exact, we are only extracting and using the materials involved in the polymerization system in the yeast cell.”

Sachet was lost in thought. Karampia was a replica drug of Fuzeon, Roche’s AIDS treatment. It interfered with the mechanism of the cell membrane and the structure on the surface of the virus fusing together as HIV infected the white blood cell. It was in the spotlight in many countries as it had minimal side effects, it worked well, and there was minimal drug resistance as well.

But the production process was extremely picky. This drug was a very large, complex chemical that had a long centipede-like molecular structure. Each part was one chemical molecule, and they had to be synthesized one by one through chemical reactions, like building Lego. After thirty-six steps, it was complete. It had thirteen steps that took about a month, and countless scientists were worked to the bone for this.

‘And he’s going to reduce it to two steps that only take thirty-six hours?’

Was this how European people at the transition point to modern times felt when they heard about steam engines for the first time?

If it was anyone else, Sachet would have snickered and told them to stop talking nonsense, but the person who said it was a monster who had achieved unrealistic results one after another, such as induced pluripotent stem cells, a glaucoma cure, and a clinical trial for an Alzheimer’s treatment. He was the biggest rising star in the scientific community. It didn’t seem like he was bluffing; he probably did have that technology. But Sachet had one concern.

“To be honest, the problem arises from the moment we lower the production cost to 0.1 percent of what it was before. I don’t have the slightest clue as to how I should alter the price because the price break is so severe.”

“Lower it so that all AIDS patients can survive,” Young-Joon said. “Once Karamchand’s factories begin working with our new yeast cell synthesis technology, I don’t want anyone dying from AIDS anywhere in the world.”

“It might be possible if the production cost is 0.1 percent. But… I don’t know. I’ve never seen such a big technological innovation. I also can’t imagine producing big enough quantities to supply the entire world,” Sachet said.

“It probably won’t be easy, given how huge the job is. That’s why the Director-General of the WHO is here right now.”

Tedros’ eyes widened.

“Me?”

“Isn’t it the WHO’s role to coordinate the global health industry?” Young-Joon asked. “If we have this kind of technology and Karamchand’s facility, the WHO must take responsibility to help Karamchand and supply Karampia to every AIDS patient in the world.”

Tedros slowly nodded with a surprised look on his face. He said, “Although I need to do some calculations, it should be possible with the production cost falling to 0.1 percent. If it’s not possible with Karamchand’s facilities alone, we can partner with other pharmaceutical companies.”

“Yes. and we have to distribute the mass-produced drugs as well. Like Africa, there are a lot of poor developing countries that are at war or have divided governments due to civil wars,” Young-Joon said. “As the government isn’t properly carrying out its duties, it will be that much harder to distribute the drugs. The WHO must make sure to solve that problem.”

“I see. I will do whatever I can,” Tedros said with a stern look.

“But Doctor Ryu, if this really succeeds and we destroy AIDS, how long will that take?” Sachet asked.

“I don’t know. It depends on how many countries our Director-General can get support from and how active he can get them to be,” Young-Joon replied. “If it’s really fast, three years. If we’re slow, it’ll take decades.”

“Let’s just say that it takes three years. If HIV is eradicated, wouldn’t one of our pipelines disappear?” Sachet said. “And to be honest, I’m not confident that we will be able to secure our livelihood in three years. Unlike A-Bio, we don’t have the monstrous pace of research that can print out new drug candidates every few months.”

“That’s true. You could be put in a difficult position.”

“I’m sorry for being so crude, but if the technology you told us about is really true, this is a very dangerous variable for us, not good news.”

“I understand, and that’s why it’s a relief, right? You found out right now that a technology that can destroy your company,” Young-Joon said. “Some places like Roche might be unsuspecting and take a huge hit to their sales, but Karamchand has time to prepare.”

To be honest, Sachet knew as well; he didn’t have a choice in this matter. It seemed like Young-Joon was asking for his cooperation, but Young-Joon was giving Karamchand, who was destined to become unemployed from more advanced technologies, a last chance.

Young-Joon had nothing to lose. He could just push back their three-year plan to eradicate HIV for fifteen years and do it himself at A-Gen. It will take a long time for A-Gen to do it as they had never touched the AIDS drug industry, but that also meant that it wouldn’t affect their company sales even if AIDS was destroyed. The reason why Young-Joon was presenting Karamchand with this offer was because it was the shortest way to eradicate AIDS and a way to save time.

If Karamchand lost Young-Joon, it was obvious that the one who would be unsuspecting and take a huge hit to their sales would be Karamchand, not Roche. But unlike Roche, Karamchand wouldn’t be able to recover from that kind of damage.

“But you don’t have to be that worried,” Young-Joon said with a smile.

“We don’t have to worry?”

“Right now, medicine is moving onto the