You've Got This, Bro
"I came to work in the R&D department of Merck Company after graduating with a PhD in Chemistry from MIT. This is my seventh year working here," Xi Zhengyu said.
MIT's chemistry program is among the best in the United States. Dr. Xi graduated from a prestigious university and then went on to work in the R&D department of a world-renowned pharmaceutical company. Her career can be described as smooth sailing.
Shen Qi asked, "Judging from your accent, you're from the North?"
"Yes, my hometown is on the banks of the Yellow River."
"Did you also complete your undergraduate and master's degrees in the United States?"
"I completed my master's and doctoral studies at MIT's School of Chemistry, and was admitted to Yenching University's Chemistry Department through direct admission for my undergraduate degree."
"So you're alumni." Shen Qi glanced at Xi Zhengyu a couple more times.
After exchanging pleasantries for about ten minutes and explaining the necessary background, Xi Zhengyu shifted the topic to more professional matters. "Actually, the project I'm in charge of is also related to glycogen synthase kinase-3β inhibitors. So listening to Professor Shen's report was truly enlightening. If there's an opportunity, I hope to have an in-depth exchange with Professor Shen. I wonder if I would have the honor of learning from Professor Shen?"
Shen Qi smiled. He could tell that Dr. Xi was beating around the bush; she probably had something to say but was finding it difficult to bring it up.
"Dr. Xi, we're both from Yan University, it's fate that we meet an old friend in a foreign land. Please speak frankly if you have anything to say."
"It's like this... Our company leaders asked me to inquire with Professor Shen about the possibility of transferring your C01C-2 patent." Xi Zhengyu was, after all, in R&D, not procurement. He spoke hesitantly about business, as if he had done something shameful and unspeakable.
Normally, when negotiating business deals, pharmaceutical companies should send a purchasing manager.
When doing business with someone of Shen Qi's stature, a pharmaceutical company would need to send at least the head of purchasing.
This academic conference organized by the American Chemical Society featured many highly skilled R&D personnel as speakers.
Xi Zhengyu is Chinese and graduated from the Chemistry Department. Perhaps based on this consideration, Merck Company had Xi Zhengyu Shen Qi contact Shen Qi first to sound him out.
Shen Qi patted Xi Zhengyu on the shoulder and said, "Brother, let's talk business. Let's do it openly and honestly. Patent transfer is a common cooperative project; it's not something shady."
"Can we talk?" Xi Zhengyu asked.
"Of course," Shen Qi said frankly.
"Professor Shen, we have studied your papers. You even invented a new type of reaction to obtain C01C-2, which shows that C01C-2 has very high value. We understand that C01C-2 is currently in the animal testing phase, and our Merck Company's offer should not disappoint you."
Shen Qi smiled faintly, "Dr. Xi, Dr. Xi, you are indeed a typical science and engineering man, a research and development man. You are a very down-to-earth person."
Xi Zhengyu shrugged, waiting for Shen Qi's direct response.
Shen Qi said, "To be honest, the patent for C01C-2 has already been transferred to a Chinese pharmaceutical company. You should contact that company to discuss this."
"We've looked into it. The pharmaceutical company is called Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical, and the boss is..." Xi Zhengyu stopped there.
"The boss is my father. You can talk to my father." Shen Qi was quite open. His father owned a pharmaceutical factory, and there was no way to hide this.
"Oh," Xi Zhengyu responded. The information he received from the company's senior management was that winning over Shen Qi was equivalent to winning over Shen Qi's father.
"The creation of C01C-2 was actually partly accidental. Since it had been successfully prepared in the laboratory, I thought I should make the most of it and transform C01C-2 from a laboratory compound into a commercial drug to benefit patients. The main responsibility for the development and testing of commercial drugs lies with the pharmaceutical company." Shen Qi took two glasses of champagne and handed one to Xi Zhengyu.
Xi Zhengyu accepted the champagne and listened attentively.
"I also know that no Chinese pharmaceutical company can compete with Merck Company in terms of R&D capabilities. In a sense, transferring C01C-2 to Merck Company, with Merck Company handling the subsequent clinical trials and related certifications, might be more efficient." Shen Qi stated objectively that Chinese pharmaceutical companies are indeed no match for international giants like Merck Company in developing original drugs.
The core competitiveness of a pharmaceutical company lies in its original research capabilities, and the cornerstone of these capabilities is high-quality R&D personnel.
"Most Chinese pharmaceutical companies produce generic drugs, but some are starting to develop original drugs, which is a good sign. As a researcher, I know how difficult it is to develop original drugs. I worked at Merck headquarters for seven years and only worked on one project, an original project. The company has invested over $100 million in R&D, and it has taken seven years, and we still haven't completed Phase II clinical trials... It's tough, really tough." Xi Zhengyu remarked, drawing on his own R&D experience, and then added, "I am Chinese, but now we are working for different countries, and I hope Professor Shen can fully understand."
"I understand, of course I understand." Shen Qi understood Dr. Xi and said, "If I had to choose again, I would still sell the patent for C01C-2 to a Chinese company. Although developing original drugs is difficult, there has to be Chinese people doing it, right?"
Shen Qi was rejecting Merck Company's offer; he hadn't even asked about Merck Company's price.
"That's true." Even if the deal falls through, we can still be on good terms. Xi Zhengyu felt inexplicably relieved; he really wasn't good at negotiating business with people.
Shen Qi and Xi Zhengyu are alumni of Yenching University. They met in the United States and immediately started talking business, but after a lot of talking, they couldn't finalize the deal.
They say talking about money hurts feelings, so let's talk about things that won't.
"Is Dr. Xi married?" Shen Qi asked.
Xi Zhengyu stated that after graduating with a PhD from MIT, he worked for seven years, so he should be approaching forty.
In China, most men approaching 40 are married, but in the United States, it's not uncommon to see single men approaching 40.
"I'm married and have a daughter." Xi Zhengyu's expression was quite complex, a mixture of happiness, concern, and some guilt.
"What a coincidence, I also have a daughter." Shen Qi noticed the change in Xi Zhengyu's expression and asked, "Your wife and daughter are both in the United States?"
"They're in China." Xi Zhengyu shook his head; it seemed this was the reason for his concern and guilt.
Shen Qi was puzzled. "Master's degree, doctorate, plus seven years of work experience, you've been in the US for at least ten years, right? Why don't you bring your wife and daughter to the US to ease your longing for them?"
"My daughter is only one year and two months old; she was born in China," Xi Zhengyu said.
How long have you been married?
"Exactly one year later, the wedding was held in the country."
"You've been married for a year, and your daughter is one year and two months old..." Shen Qi displayed his mathematical talent and quickly calculated the answer.
"I went to China on a business trip two years ago and stayed at Merck China for a few months. I met a girl there, and then we got married."
"Brother, that's solid." Shen Qi continued to demonstrate his powerful mathematical abilities. This Dr. Xi really was solid. Calculating from the timeline, Dr. Xi had completed the major life events of getting married and having a child in just a few months.