335: Chapter 335 The Vow on the Banks of the Rhine

In Basel on August 20th, the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

The Rhine River wound its way down from the Alps, passing through this small Swiss city, its waters shimmering with a faint golden hue in the morning light. On the opposite bank, the spires of Basel Minster were faintly visible, and the bells had just chimed eight o'clock.

The Basel Congress Center, situated on the riverbank, was a modern glass building. At this moment, a long queue had already formed in front of the entrance—most of the CEOs of the world's top fifty pharmaceutical companies had arrived, over three hundred reporters had set up their cameras and equipment, and there were patient representatives who had come from all over the world; some were in wheelchairs, some were on crutches, and some were wearing masks.

Everyone knew that what was to be announced today had the potential to change the global pharmaceutical landscape.

In the main hall of the Congress Center, three red cloths covered the center of the stage. The outlines beneath the red cloths were vaguely visible, like three silent monuments.

At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the lights dimmed.

A spotlight hit the side of the stage.

Shen Mubai, CEO of Xingchen Biomedical, walked out.

The fifty-five-year-old Shen Mubai was wearing a dark gray suit, his hair was graying, and he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He had once been the Global Vice President of R&D at Merck & Co. in the United States, and had been personally invited back to the country by Su Chen a year ago. During his time at Merck, he had led the development of four blockbuster new drugs, one of which had annual sales exceeding five billion US dollars.

But at this moment, he was standing here not to sell medicine.

On the large screen behind him, there was only one line of text: "Cure is not a dream."

Shen Mubai walked to the center of the stage, his gaze sweeping across the audience.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today Xingchen is releasing three products. They have one thing in common—they are game changers."

He paused for three seconds, letting the impact of his words fully sink in.

"But before that, I want to say one thing. The R&D at Xingchen Biomedical did not begin three years ago. It began twelve months ago when we completed the technical verification. After a year of clinical trials and production preparation, today, we can finally present them to you."

There was whispering in the audience. Completing Phase III clinical trials in one year? That speed was too fast.

Shen Mubai did not explain. He walked toward the first red cloth and placed his hand on it.

"The first product, Xingkangning."

He lifted the red cloth.

The large screen simultaneously displayed the data:

Xingkangning (Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy)

Indication: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (EGFR Mutation)

Phase III Clinical Trial Patients: 3,200

Efficacy Rate: 92% (Existing best drug is 68%)

Side Effect Reduction: 70%

Progression-Free Survival: 18.5 months (Existing drug 11.2 months)

Price: Estimated $30,000 per year (Similar drugs $60,000-$80,000)

The audience began to stir.

A ninety-two percent efficacy rate? The existing Erbitux is only sixty-eight percent.

Progression-free survival of eighteen point five months? That's seven months more.

Side effect reduction of seventy percent? This means patients can live like normal people.

A middle-aged female patient from the United States stood up abruptly. She was in her forties, with messy blonde hair, red-rimmed eyes, and her voice trembled so much she could barely speak clearly:

"My husband was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and took Erbitux, but the side effects made his life a living hell. He vomited until he was nothing but skin and bones, lost all his hair, and lived on painkillers every day. This medicine... when can it be bought?"

Shen Mubai looked at her and said earnestly:

"Madam, Xingchen has already submitted marketing authorization applications in thirty countries worldwide. The European Union will be the fastest, with approval expected by the end of the year. As for the United States... it depends on the efficiency of the FDA."

The lady covered her mouth, and tears streamed down her face.

Shen Mubai walked to the second red cloth.

"The second product, Yiqi."

The red cloth was lifted.

The large screen displayed the data:

Yiqi (New Alzheimer's Disease Drug)

Mechanism: Clear β-amyloid plaques + repair synaptic damage

Phase III Clinical Trial Patients: 1,800 (Mild to Moderate)

Cognitive Score Improvement: 40% (Existing drugs only slow the decline)

Activities of Daily Living Improvement: 55%

The world's first drug capable of reversing cognitive decline

The audience was silent.

Alzheimer's disease is known as the "gentle terminal illness." There are fifty million patients worldwide, and behind every one is a broken family. Existing drugs can only slow the progression of the disease; there has never been any drug that could reverse cognitive decline.

An elderly woman with white hair covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

She was a Swiss local, living in a small town on the outskirts of Basel. Her husband had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for seven years and no longer recognized her. Every day, she had to feed him, bathe him, and change his diapers. Sometimes he would suddenly get angry, and sometimes he would cry like a child.

For seven years, she hadn't had a full night's sleep.

Shen Mubai said slowly:

"Alzheimer's disease is known as the 'gentle terminal illness.' There are 50 million patients worldwide, and behind every one is a family. Today, Xingchen wants to say—this terminal illness is no longer a terminal illness."

The old woman lowered her head, her shoulders trembling violently.

Shen Mubai walked to the last red cloth.

"The third product, Nuwa CRISPR-3 Gene Therapy."

The red cloth was lifted.

The large screen displayed the data:

Nuwa CRISPR-3 Gene Therapy (Gene Editing Therapy)

Precision: 99.99% (Original CRISPR-Cas9 version approx. 60%)

Off-target rate: <0.001% (Industry standard 0.1%)

Successfully repaired genetic disease genes: 17 types

List scrolling:

Sickle Cell Anemia

Thalassemia

Huntington's Disease

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Cystic Fibrosis

Hemophilia A/B

Retinitis Pigmentosa

Shen Mubai said:

"Nuwa, the goddess in Chinese mythology who mended the heavens. Today, Xingchen named this technology after her—because we are mending the flaws in life."

He paused.

"The first 17 genetic diseases are just the beginning. In the next five years, this number will become 100."

In the audience, a young man in a wheelchair slowly raised his hand.

Shen Mubai saw him and motioned for a staff member to pass him the microphone.

The young man took the microphone, his voice very soft, but the entire hall was silent:

"My name is Mark, I am twenty-eight years old, and I am a patient with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy."

He paused, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I was diagnosed at eighteen, and the doctor said I wouldn't live past thirty. It's been ten years, and I've watched myself lose the ability to walk and the ability to take care of myself. I've been waiting to die every day."

His eyes reddened.

"Dr. Shen, can my illness be cured?"

Shen Mubai walked off the stage, step by step toward Mark.

The entire hall was deathly silent.

He walked up to Mark, crouched down, and took his hand.

"Mark, the next batch of clinical trials for Nuwa CRISPR-3 Gene Therapy will include Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Are you willing to participate?"

Mark's tears welled up and spilled over.

"I am willing."

The entire audience stood up, and the applause lasted for a long time.

The morning mist over the Rhine had dispersed, and the sunlight shone through the glass curtain wall, illuminating Mark's face.

For the first time, he felt that the sunlight was warm.

Xingchen Biomedical had begun technical verification and testing for these three drugs since last August. The technology originated from Su Chen, who had spent 3 billion in system funds to purchase it. Xingchen Academy of Sciences was responsible for implementing the technology, which was then licensed to Xingchen Biomedical for production. The patents remained with Xingchen Academy of Sciences, which collected 10% of sales revenue annually as a royalty fee.