The Rise of the Writers of the Republic of China

If you discover the medical value of sulfonamide, you will have the chance to win the Nobel Prize in Medicine?

Probably.

After all, this is the most effective antibacterial drug before the advent of penicillin, which can save countless lives.

Aldridge led the students to record the experimental results, and happily said to Zhou Hexuan: "Zhou, I plan to publish a paper on The Lancet. You are the second author of the paper, is that okay?"

"Of course, but I have to apply for a patent in advance." Zhou Hexuan laughed.

"No problem." Aldrich said without thinking.

The two parties had already signed a sponsorship agreement before carrying out the experiment. Once a major experiment result was produced, Zhou Hexuan, as a sponsor, would automatically obtain the right to apply for a patent for the discovery.

Zhou Hexuan asked: "Although we have discovered the medical value of Bailang Duoxi, we have not yet developed a related drug, so can we apply for a patent?"

Aldrich thought for a while and said: "It is possible to apply for a patent for new use of drugs. For example, if we discovered the killing effect of Prontosil on hemolytic streptococci, then we can apply for related patents. As long as other pharmaceutical companies want to prepare blood-killing streptococci Such drugs for lytic streptococci must be approved by us."

Zhou Hexuan understood a bit: "That is to say, if someone develops such a drug that kills other bacteria, they don't need to be approved by us, and they can apply for the relevant drug patent by themselves?"

"Yes, that's it." Aldridge said.

Zhou Hexuan immediately said: "Then I hope not to publish the paper for the time being, and we will do a few more experiments to see if it has any effect on other bacteria."

Aldrich was a little unhappy. As a biochemist, he certainly hoped to publish a paper as soon as possible. This not only allowed him to win great honors, but also promoted the development of the medical industry. Delaying the publication of the paper is nothing but more beneficial to Zhou Hexuan, the patent owner.

However, the direction of the experiment 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 I must disclose it within two months." Published papers."

"I agree." Zhou Hexuan smiled. He also needs to sign the paper, and after the academic paper is published, Zhou Hexuan has the priority to apply for a patent within a short period of time. Even if other people follow up to do related research, they cannot beat him in terms of patents.

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 the matter?" Zhou Hexuan asked.

Aldrich said with a smile: "If you want to apply for a patent, you should quickly buy a house in the UK, 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: "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, the United States, Germany, Japan and Italy have joined this convention organization (the Soviet Union has not yet joined). As long as he applies for a patent in any country of the Paris Convention Organization, he has the priority 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 other countries' patented products, and stipulates that foreigners cannot apply for patents in China, and Chinese people can apply for equivalent patents with a slight improvement of foreign patents-although it is useless to apply.

This was originally a protective policy, but now it is not good for Zhou Hexuan. Zhou Hexuan, as a non-signatory of the Paris Convention, 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 (companies and factories must have long-term fixed addresses, leather bag companies are not allowed).

Not only that, after Zhou Hexuan applied for a patent in the UK, if he wanted to continue to apply in the United States, he had to go to the United States to buy a house or start a company and build a factory. By analogy, if Zhou Hexuan wants to apply for patents in many countries around the world, he must buy houses in these countries one by one.

Is this a patent application, or a global real estate speculator?

Fortunately, it is the time of the world economic crisis, and real estate in capitalist countries is very cheap. Zhou Hexuan can buy houses everywhere by waving banknotes.

Zhou Hexuan said with a smile: "We have now discovered the medical value of Bailang Duoxi, when will we be able to develop new medicines?"

"I can't tell," Aldrich shook his head. "The timing of drug research is unpredictable. We first need to extract the active ingredients of Prontosil, and a new drug may be developed next year, or it may be ten years later. A breakthrough depends on our luck."

"That's it." Zhou Hexuan was a little disappointed, he was planning to set up a factory right away.

So Zhou Hexuan is a layman. Historically, although Dumak discovered the medical value of cyperidone at the end of 1932, it was not until 1933 that Sulfonamide was extracted, and it was not until 1937 that someone developed a new drug "Sulfapyridine" .

As for the research and development process of penicillin, it was even more bumpy. Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, but due to technical reasons, it has not been able to be purified, and the strain can only be cultivated from generation to generation. By 1939, Fleming provided all his research results to Florey and Chain, who had made breakthroughs, and finally extracted penicillin crystals by freeze-drying.

Flory and Chain held the purified penicillin crystals and sought support everywhere, but they traveled all over Europe, but no one was willing to invest. Finally, they traveled across the ocean and came to the United States to finally get help—it was cheap for the Yankees.

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, and the scientific honors will belong to you, while I will obtain the relevant patents for new drugs. What do you think?" "

Regardless of whether it is the 20th century or the 21st century, what scientists most hope for is research funding, and it is certainly worth being happy to have a long-term sponsor. Aldrich laughed: "Zhou, you are so cute, as cute as the pound. How much money can you provide every year?"

"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 to the dollar is 3.51, and the annual research and development funds of $35,000 are enough.

Aldrich said with a sly smile: "With £20,000 a year, I can speed up drug development."

"Professor, you should be a businessman, not a scientist." Zhou Hexuan laughed.

"You agree?" Aldrich asked.

"Of course, tomorrow I will find a lawyer to draw up an agreement." Zhou Hexuan said.

Zhou Hexuan has a long-term plan for sulfonamide drugs. He asked a professor from the University of London to cooperate in the research and development, and then asked Vivien Leigh's father to run the factory, and by the way, Prince Albert was brought in as a shareholder. With the participation of members of the royal family, no one would dare to reach out indiscriminately. When Prince Albert ascends the throne and becomes king, he will be able to pass without hindrance.

It's a pity that this is all something later, who knows when the new drug 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 for a day."