If you discover the medical value of sulfa, will you have a chance to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine?
Probably.
After all, this was before the advent of penicillin, the most effective antibacterial drug that could save countless lives.
Aldrich took the student records to ask for the experimental results, and happily said to Zhou Hexuan: "Zhou, I plan to publish a paper in The Lancet. You are the second signed author of the paper. Is that okay?"
"Of course, but I have to apply for a patent in advance." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile.
"No problem." Aldrich said without hesitation.
The two parties have signed a sponsorship agreement before conducting experiments. Once significant experimental results are produced, Zhou Hexuan, as the sponsor, will automatically obtain the right to apply for a patent for the discovery.
Zhou Hexuan asked: "Although we have discovered the medical value of sulfonamides, we have not yet developed related drugs. Can we also apply for a patent?"
Aldrich thought for a while and said: "We can apply for patents for new uses of drugs. For example, if we discovered the killing effect of sulfonamide on hemolytic streptococci, we can apply for related patents. As long as other pharmaceutical companies want to prepare preparations to kill hemolytic streptococci
Sulfa drugs must be approved by us."
Zhou Hexuan understood somewhat: "In other words, if someone develops sulfonamide drugs that kill other bacteria, they don't need to obtain our approval. They can apply for relevant sulfonamide drug patents on their own?"
"Yes, that's it." Aldrich said.
Zhou Hexuan immediately said: "Then I hope that the paper will not be published publicly for the time being, and we will do a few more experiments to see if sulfonamide has an effect on other bacteria."
Aldrich was a little unhappy. As a biochemist, of course he hoped to publish the paper as soon as possible. This would not only bring him great honors, but also promote the development of the medical industry. Delaying the publication of the paper was nothing more than a disservice to Zhou Hexuan.
Patent owners are better off.
However, the experimental direction was proposed by Zhou Hexuan, and the experimental funds were also provided by Zhou Hexuan. Aldrich had to make a compromise. He said helplessly: "I will do other experiments as soon as possible, but I have a deadline and must make it public within two months."
Published papers."
"I agree." Zhou Hexuan said with a smile. He also had to sign the paper, and after the academic paper was published, Zhou Hexuan had the priority to apply for a patent in a short period of time. Even if others followed and did related research, he would also grab the patent.
But him.
Aldrich suddenly remembered something and asked: "By the way, Mr. Zhou, do you have real estate, a company, or a factory in London?"
"No, what's wrong?" Zhou Hexuan asked.
Aldrich smiled and said: "If you want to apply for a patent, then buy a house in the UK as soon as possible, or register a company with a fixed office address. Otherwise, you will not be able to apply for a patent because China has not joined the Paris Convention.
organize."
Zhou Hexuan quickly thanked him: "Thank you for reminding me!"
The full name of the "Paris Convention" is the "Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property." Today, major countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Japan, and Italy have joined this convention (the Soviet Union has not joined yet). As long as you apply for a patent in any country of the Paris Convention, then
He has the priority right to apply for the patent in another country, provided that the applicant must have the relevant nationality.
China has not joined the Paris Convention, so it can unscrupulously copy patented products of other countries, and it stipulates that foreigners cannot apply for patents in China, but Chinese people can apply for equivalent patents by slightly improving foreign patents. Even if they apply, it will be useless.
This was originally a protective policy, but now it is unfavorable to Zhou Hexuan. As a non-signatory of the Paris Convention, if Zhou Hexuan wants to apply for a patent in the UK, he must first buy a house in the UK, or register a company and set up a factory (company and
The factory must have a long-term fixed address, a leather bag company is not acceptable).
Not only that, after Zhou Hexuan applies for a patent in the UK, if he wants to continue the application in the United States, he has to go to the United States to buy a house or open a company and build a factory. By analogy, if Zhou Hexuan wants to apply for a patent in many countries around the world, he will have to buy houses in these countries one by one.
.
Is this applying for a patent or speculating on global real estate?
Fortunately, now is the time of the world economic crisis, and real estate in capitalist countries is very cheap. Zhou Hexuan can buy houses everywhere with his money.
Zhou Hexuan smiled and said: "We have now discovered the medical value of sulfonamides. When can we develop new drugs?"
"You can't say for sure," Aldrich shook his head. "The time for drug research is unpredictable. We may be able to develop a sulfonamide drug next year, or we may have a breakthrough ten years later. It depends on our luck."
"That's it." Zhou Hexuan looked slightly disappointed. He was planning to set up a factory right away.
So Zhou Hexuan is an outsider. Historically, although Dumac discovered the medical value of sulfa at the end of 1932, it was not until 1937 that someone developed the new drug "sulfapridine". From the new medical discovery to the successful development of the new drug, it is a long time.
It took five years.
As for the development process of penicillin drugs, it was even more bumpy. Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, but due to technical research, it could not be purified and could only be cultivated from generation to generation. By 1939, Fleming put his research results
, all provided free of charge to Florey and Qian, who made the breakthrough, and finally extracted penicillin crystals using the freeze-drying method.
Flory and Qian were looking for support everywhere with the purified penicillin crystals. As a result, they traveled all over Europe but no one was willing to invest. Finally, they traveled across the ocean and came to the United States before finally getting help and giving the Yankees a free advantage.
Zhou Hexuan thought for a while and said: "Professor Aldrich, I hope to sign a long-term cooperation agreement with you. I will fund your research, the scientific honors will belong to you, and I will obtain the relevant patent for the new drug. What do you think?"
"
Whether it is the 20th century or the 21st century, what scientists hope for most is research funds. Of course, they are happy to have a long-term sponsor. Aldrich laughed: "Zhou, you are so cute, as cute as a pound. You are every year
How much funding can be provided?”
"Is ten thousand pounds enough?" Zhou Hexuan asked.
Since Britain abandoned the gold standard last year, the pound has plummeted this year, but the exchange rate of the pound against the U.S. dollar is 51, and the annual R&D funding of US$35,000 is enough.
Aldrich smiled slyly and said: "With 20,000 pounds a year, I can speed up drug research and development."
"Professor, you should be a businessman, not a scientist." Zhou Hexuan laughed.
"You agreed?" Aldrich asked.
"Of course, I will find a lawyer to draw up an agreement tomorrow," Zhou Hexuan said.
Zhou Hexuan has a long-term plan for sulfonamide drugs. He asked professors from the University of London to cooperate in research and development, and then asked Vivien Leigh's father to run the factory. By the way, he brought Prince Albert in as a shareholder. With members of the royal family participating in the stock, no one should dare to come.
If you reach out randomly, when Prince Albert ascends the throne and becomes the king, you will be able to pass without any hindrance.
It's a pity that this is all a story for later, who knows when new drugs will be successfully developed.
Zhou Hexuan's top priority now is to buy a house in London and obtain the qualifications to apply for a patent. He returned to the hotel in a happy mood. The waiter came over respectfully and said: "Mr. Zhou, there is an Asian looking for you. He has been waiting all day.
