Chapter Summaries

Patients worried about carcinogenic impurities in several antihypertensive drugs switched to Three Purities' new medication and reported stable blood pressure with fewer side effects. The support group then questioned why recalled sartan drugs had not been recalled locally and whether patients could return their prescriptions.

• Patients sought alternatives after repeated reports of carcinogenic impurities and cancer risks involving several antihypertensive drugs.
• Doctors and patients welcomed Three Purities' new antihypertensive drug as a safer option, and patients began switching to it.
• Patients in the support group reported stable blood pressure and relief from symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, and nausea.
• Old Zhang asked why sartan drugs had only been recalled overseas, prompting patients to ask whether they could return their remaining medication.

Old Zhang tried to return his Irbesartan tablets after learning they might be carcinogenic, but the hospital refused because no official recall had been issued. After the manufacturer denied knowing of any recall, patients publicized their complaints, and netizens discovered that the drug had been recalled worldwide but not in China, setting off an online uproar.

• Old Zhang asked the hospital to refund his Irbesartan tablets, but nurses explained that it could only accept returns after a doctor's decision or an official recall.
• Old Zhang called Sanofi's domestic customer service, which denied receiving any recall notice and ended the call.
• Old Zhang posted his experience in the Patient Support Group, prompting other patients to complain and enlist their children to spread the story online.
• Patients' complaints and news about international recalls made the issue trend on Langbo.
• Netizens found that countries including Eagle Country, Maple Country, Bull Country, Stick Country, and Sakura Country had recalled the drug, while China had issued no recall notice.
• Chinese netizens erupted in anger after realizing China was the sole exception to the worldwide recalls.

Sanofi China President Mr. Swansea refused to recall Irbesartan despite growing outrage over the company’s global recall, and public pressure intensified after a patient’s family blamed the drug for lung cancer. As hospitals returned unopened stock and stopped selling the drug, Swansea agreed to a vague apology but still rejected a recall.

• Netizens flooded Sanofi’s official account with criticism over its refusal to recall Irbesartan in China, and Mr. Swansea ordered the PR department to ignore the uproar.
• After several days of silence, a netizen claimed their father had developed lung cancer after taking Irbesartan for ten years and said they had filed a lawsuit.
• The post frightened patients, prompting hospitals to stop selling Sanofi’s antihypertensive drug and demand returns of unopened inventory.
• Mr. Swansea agreed to accept the hospitals’ returns and instructed the PR department to issue a sincere but vague apology while refusing to recall the drug.

After Sanofi’s apology failed to quell public anger over the recalled Irbesartan, Wei Kang used Three Purities’ support to help a patient’s family continue its lawsuit and intensify pressure for a domestic recall. Sanofi faced growing criticism from patients, the public, and the pharmaceutical industry.

• Sanofi announced that the recalled Irbesartan did not involve products sold in China, but netizens accused the company of double standards and insincerity.
• Wei Kang noticed that Three Purities’ Antihypertensive Drug sales were soaring and read a patient’s family member’s account of a lawsuit against Sanofi.
• After learning the family was considering settling to afford treatment for the father’s lung cancer, Wei Kang offered free anti-cancer drugs through Three Purities.
• The family member accepted Wei Kang’s offer, promised to continue the lawsuit, and received support from netizens.
• Wei Kang called for Sanofi to recall problematic drugs domestically and offered free medicine to patients with cancer linked to them.
• Domestic pharmaceutical companies and medical experts joined the calls for a recall, leaving Sanofi under mounting pressure.

Sanofi’s Mr. Swansea tried to contain the backlash over its problematic antihypertensive drug, then decided to shift public anger onto rival pharmaceutical companies. A paid article exposing multinational firms’ alleged double standards spread online, leaving the public ready to hear more accusations.

• Mr. Swansea learned that Sanqing had won over patients and taken Sanofi’s market, so he gave up on quickly recovering the situation.
• Sanofi’s deputy public relations director proposed exposing competitors’ drug recalls and having Sanofi recall a small batch of its own medicine to improve its image, and Mr. Swansea approved the plan.
• Li Han received detailed information about multinational pharmaceutical companies’ recalls abroad and their failure to recall drugs in China, then organized his staff to prepare a viral article.
• When an underling suspected Sanqing had commissioned the work, Li Han defended Sanqing and said he had never received an order from the company.
• Li Han published an emotionally charged article condemning multinational pharmaceutical companies’ alleged double standards, and marketing accounts rapidly spread it across the internet.

A viral manifesto condemning multinational pharmaceutical companies’ double standards sparked a nationwide boycott and a surge of support for domestic products. At Sanofi China, Mr. Swansea’s plan to redirect public anger and announce a voluntary recall collapsed when the Drug Administration Bureau summoned the company for an explanation.

• An online manifesto listed multinational drug recalls that excluded China and urged consumers to boycott foreign medicines in favor of domestic products, especially Three Purities.
• Netizens spread the boycott beyond pharmaceuticals, flooded foreign companies’ official channels with abuse, and began replacing international brands with domestic alternatives.
• Mr. Swansea praised Sanofi China’s public relations strategy for diverting attention toward other foreign brands and planned to announce a voluntary recall the next day.
• A secretary rushed in with an official letter summoning Sanofi China to explain its handling of the problematic drugs.
• Mr. Swansea realized the company could not proceed with its planned recall announcement and ordered his staff to prepare materials for the meeting the next day.

The Drug Administration Bureau confronted Sanofi China over three Irbesartan drugs and presented test results confirming that one contained the carcinogen Nitrosamines. Mr. Swansea agreed to an immediate recall rather than risk a ban on Sanofi drugs in China, leaving the company facing public disgrace and lasting market losses.

• Mr. Swansea arrived at the Drug Administration Bureau with Sanofi China staff after receiving a sudden summons about the drugs.
• Mr. Swansea presented Sanofi’s internal quality reports, but Director Li’s staff rejected them as insufficient evidence of safety.
• Director Li showed test results finding trace Nitrosamines in one of the three Irbesartan drugs, leaving Mr. Swansea stunned.
• Director Li ordered Sanofi to choose between an immediate recall and a ban on its drugs in China.
• Mr. Swansea agreed to recall the problematic drugs, apologize, and compensate affected patients.
• Mr. Swansea left the bureau regretting that Sanofi had not recalled the drugs earlier, as the products’ reputations and market prospects were ruined.

After Sanofi's antihypertensive drugs were found to contain nitrosamines, regulators ordered a recall and announced severe penalties, while Sanofi apologized and began refunding affected purchases. The crackdown boosted Three Purities' new drug and prompted broader inspections and renewed attention to drug safety.

• The National Medical Products Administration and Beijing Drug Administration Bureau found nitrosamines in Sanofi's Anbowei antihypertensive drugs, ordered affected batches recalled, and announced a fine of twenty times the amount involved after the recall.
• Netizens praised the authorities' response, demanded tougher action against companies with double standards, and flooded Sanofi's apology with comments tagging other foreign companies.
• Sanofi apologized, identified the affected batches, and told patients to return them to the original hospitals for refunds.
• Drug Administration Bureaus across the country increased random inspections, while other pharmaceutical companies strengthened quality control and imported antihypertensive drugs sharply declined.
• Three Purities' newly launched antihypertensive drug filled the market gap, and the Drug Administration Bureau concluded that stricter supervision and penalties were needed alongside better adverse-reaction reporting by companies.

Wang Guiqing learned that Sanqing’s cardiovascular drugs were selling well and improving hospitalized patients’ conditions. Wei Kang reviewed Sanqing’s annual report, saw the company had risen to fifth globally and first in China with $42 billion in revenue, and resolved to develop more drugs while aiming for the global top spot.

• Wang Guiqing discussed the recalled imported drugs with Old Li and learned that patients were turning to Sanqing’s cardiovascular medicines.
• Wang Guiqing reviewed hospital reports showing that patients taking Sanqing’s four drugs had stable indicators and fewer adverse reactions, then went to tell them the drugs were domestic.
• Wei Kang reviewed Sanqing’s financial report and found that annual revenue had reached $42 billion, driven by its flagship medicines and other business.
• Anmei told Wei Kang that Sanqing ranked fifth among pharmaceutical companies worldwide and first in China.
• Wei Kang reflected on the responsibility that came with Sanqing’s success and wanted to develop more drugs, treat more patients, and eventually become the world’s leading pharmaceutical company.

Wei Kang raised Sanqing Group’s year-end bonuses and released its first annual report, revealing huge revenue and research spending that drew national attention. As he prepared for the company’s annual meeting and holiday schedule, Fortune magazine requested an exclusive interview with him.

• Wei Kang increased the company-wide bonus to twelve months’ salary and doubled project bonuses, surprising Sanqing employees with payouts worth as much as thirty-six months’ pay.
• Sanqing Group published its first annual report, disclosing more than 40 billion US dollars in revenue and R&D investment of about 15 percent.
• Sanqing employees celebrated the bonuses and the company’s growth, sharing emotional reactions on its internal forums and communication apps.
• News of the annual report spread online, prompting praise from the public and comments from business figures including Da Mi Le Jun and Lao Luo.
• Wei Kang focused on preparing Sanqing’s annual meeting and holiday schedule as Fortune magazine called to request an exclusive interview with him.

Lucas, editor-in-chief of Fortune Magazine's Asia-Pacific edition, asked Wei Kang for confidential financial details so Sanqing could be ranked in the Global Fortune 500. After Wei Kang refused, Lucas agreed to rely on Sanqing's published annual report, estimated it would rank around 280th, and secured Wei Kang's agreement to an interview.

• Lucas called Wei Kang to request Sanqing's sales, profits, and costs for Fortune Magazine's Global Fortune 500 ranking.
• Wei Kang refused to disclose Sanqing's confidential financial data and said the ranking meant little to the company.
• Lucas realized that excluding Sanqing would undermine the list's credibility and offered to use Sanqing's published annual report instead.
• Lucas estimated that Sanqing's 42 billion US dollars in revenue would place it around 280th on the list.
• Wei Kang agreed to appear on the list and accepted Lucas's interview request.

Three Purities held a lively annual meeting, and Wei Kang returned home to find comfort and a sense of family. After the company entered Fortune magazine’s Global 500, employees defended Three Purities against criticism by revealing their high incomes, while Wei Kang earned the title of China’s Medicine King.

• Wei Kang left Three Purities’ annual meeting after the raffle and performances, then embraced the person waiting for him at home.
• Fortune magazine’s annual ranking placed Three Purities around 276th, making it the youngest company ever to enter the Global 500.
• Netizens argued over whether Wei Kang kept the company’s profits for himself and whether Three Purities treated its employees fairly.
• Three Purities employees revealed their salaries and bonuses online, including annual incomes of nearly 800,000 yuan and 1.15 million yuan.
• The salary disclosures impressed netizens, and Wei Kang gradually became known as the Medicine King.

As Spring Plowing neared, Super Soybean seeds drew farmers to shops in Lu City, while COFCO’s first Super Soybean Oil batch became a hit with shoppers and online users. The chapter ended with netizens praising gene-edited crops and imagining more improved foods reaching the market.

• Seed shops on Seed Street advertised Super Soybean seeds, and farmers bought them after shop owners promoted their yields and discounted prices.
• Li Dong visited a seed shop owner, who told him that counterfeit sellers were passing off Genetically Modified Soybean seeds as Super Soybeans.
• Zhang Yan bought three containers of newly released Super Soybean Oil and served dishes made with it to her husband.
• Zhang Yan’s husband praised the oil, distinguished gene-edited Super Soybeans from Genetically Modified Soybeans, and warned her about supposed health risks from genetically modified foods.
• Zhang Yan posted photos and her husband’s explanation online, prompting netizens to praise Super Soybeans and speculate about future gene-edited crops.

Sanqing established a permissive licensing policy for its Fourth Generation Gene Editing Technology to encourage widespread adoption and foster commercial applications. After the policy drew interest from overseas researchers and pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer’s Andre requested samples and Wei Kang directed him to apply through Sanqing’s website.

• Wang De celebrated Syngenta’s strong growth and discussed Super Soybean Oil’s success and upcoming Super Corn and Super Peanut products with COFCO’s President Ding.
• Tang Que told Wei Kang that the growing volume of requests for gene-editing samples and licenses was disrupting his work and called for a dedicated department.
• Wei Kang agreed to separate patent management from Tang Que’s duties and outlined free research use and low fees for large-scale, high-revenue commercial applications.
• Sanqing publicly announced its Fourth Generation Gene Editing Technology licensing policy, prompting overseas Bio-Hackers and pharmaceutical companies to request samples.
• Pfizer’s Andre asked Wei Kang for gene-editing samples, and Wei Kang directed him to submit an application through Sanqing’s official website.

Andre ordered Sanqing’s Arc1 Protein samples for Pfizer, and Dr. Duke’s team used them to make a major breakthrough in its Hemophilia gene therapy research. Pfizer executives agreed to adopt the technology for most drug-development projects while continuing its existing Broad Institute partnership on Thalassemia, and Albert assigned Andre to negotiate patent licensing fees with Mr. Wei.

• Andre registered Pfizer on Ordergene, ordered Arc1 Protein and Guide RNA samples, and planned to compare the technology with CRISPR-CAS 9.
• Several days later, Andre delivered the samples to Dr. Duke, who described the laboratory’s Hemophilia A research and its difficulties with existing gene-editing methods.
• After two weeks using the samples, Dr. Duke’s team achieved highly successful gene editing in human cells and made major progress toward a Hemophilia gene drug and in vivo therapy.
• Dr. Duke presented the results to Pfizer executives, who praised Sanqing’s technology and debated its use alongside the company’s Broad Institute partnership.
• Albert approved using the new technology for other drug-development projects while keeping the Broad partnership focused on Thalassemia, then asked Andre to negotiate patent licensing fees with Mr. Wei.

Wei Kang traded a discounted ARC1 patent fee for Pfizer’s unwanted assets, including abandoned drug formulas, and decided to pursue similar deals with other pharmaceutical companies. After hearing of Three Purities’ success, Weicai Pharmaceutical CEO Okada Murao concluded that abandoned formulas might reveal new treatment uses and saw a way to imitate Wei Kang’s approach.

• Andre proposed paying Pfizer’s ARC1 patent fee partly through businesses and other assets it was divesting, and Wei Kang expressed interest.
• Wei Kang and Andre reached a preliminary agreement for Pfizer to transfer unwanted assets, including abandoned formulas, in lieu of about twenty million dollars of the patent fee.
• Wei Kang decided to seek similar abandoned-drug deals from other multinational pharmaceutical companies as news of Pfizer’s agreement spread.
• Okada Murao lamented Weicai Pharmaceutical’s declining performance and blamed Three Purities for taking its Alzheimer’s drug market.
• After reading about Three Purities collecting abandoned formulas, Okada Murao resolved to search for new treatment uses in abandoned drug formulas.

Okamoto Murao decided to buy abandoned prescriptions and use them to seek a partnership with Three Purities, believing they could secure him a share in new drug projects. Wei Kang rejected his offer and told him to keep the prescriptions, leaving the companies at odds.

• Okamoto Murao's R&D director warned that developing new treatments from abandoned prescriptions was extremely difficult, but Okamoto decided to acquire them to approach Three Purities.
• Wei Kang learned that Weicai Pharmaceutical was buying abandoned prescriptions at high prices, and Anmei identified the company as a struggling former pharmaceutical giant from Sakura Country.
• Okamoto called Wei Kang and offered Weicai's collection of more than several hundred abandoned prescriptions in exchange for a ten percent stake in Three Purities' new drug projects and help entering Sakura Country.
• Wei Kang rejected the offer, called the prescriptions worthless in Okamoto's hands, and angrily hung up.

Wei Kang rejected Okamoto Murao’s attempt to sell Weicai Pharmaceutical a stake in its discarded drug formulas and, suspecting the new competition had driven up prices, ordered Three Purities to pause acquisitions. Small Sakura Country pharmaceutical owners who had been waiting for Three Purities to offer more learned that neither buyer was purchasing, leaving them scrambling to confront Okamoto.

• Okamoto Murao regretted quoting Wei Kang a ten percent stake and convinced himself Wei Kang would call back to negotiate.
• Wei Kang concluded Weicai’s competing demand had encouraged formula owners to hold out for higher prices and told Anmei to suspend acquisitions.
• Owners of several small Sakura Country pharmaceutical companies discussed waiting for Three Purities to offer more than Weicai for their discarded formulas.
• Mr. Ono received word that Three Purities had suspended acquisitions, then learned Weicai was not buying either.
• The owners blamed a possible price-cutting tactic and rushed out of the hot spring to confront Okamoto.

Wei Kang used Three Purities’ suspended acquisitions to convince pharmaceutical companies that abandoned formulas were worthless, then resumed buying them cheaply. After acquiring more than a thousand formulas, he reached a preliminary agreement with Takeda Kazuhisa to trade formulas for gene therapy patent licensing.

• Wei Kang rejected inflated offers for abandoned formulas, including Anmei’s report of a five-million-dollar package, and said he would wait for sellers to lower their prices.
• Okamoto Murao offered Wei Kang more than five hundred formulas for twenty million dollars, but Wei Kang refused and explained that he needed other companies to believe Three Purities did not need them.
• A week later, Okamoto Murao resigned and disappeared, and Three Purities announced it would resume acquisitions at low prices.
• Small and medium-sized companies sold hundreds of formulas cheaply to Three Purities, bringing Wei Kang’s collection to more than a thousand formulas, including those previously bought from Pfizer.
• Takeda Kazuhisa offered roughly five hundred formulas obtained from Weicai Pharmaceutical as part of an advance payment for gene therapy patent licensing, and he and Wei Kang reached a preliminary agreement.

Wei Kang resumed using the system’s drawing function and spent nearly a hundred thousand points after ninety-nine failed attempts. His hundredth draw earned a silver prize, which revealed an unfamiliar electronic-device blueprint whose purpose he could not identify.

• Wei Kang asked Anmei to sort the more than two thousand abandoned prescriptions, then remembered the system’s drawing function.
• Wei Kang began drawing and received no prize in his first three attempts.
• Wei Kang continued drawing until ninety-nine attempts had failed and nearly a hundred thousand points were gone.
• Wei Kang made one final draw and won a silver prize.
• Wei Kang opened the silver box, found an electronic-product blueprint, and asked the system to explain it.