Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
I am writing this review in 2020. The #1 topic around the world this year is a pandemic. This can be broken into sub-topics, such as âwho has / had it?â, âwhat is the infection / survival rate?â, âWhat is my/other government doing about it?â, and âwhen will there be an effective treatment / cure / vaccine?â Those that are interested in a high level look at just what it takes from a scientific and business side at addressing the last question are encouraged to go back a few years and read âThe Antidoteâ by Barry Werth.
In âThe Antidoteâ, Mr. Werth follows the history and fortunes, ups and downs, of Massachusetts based pharmaceutical company Vertex. The potential rewards of an effective treatment for a disease can be incredibly lucrative. However, the up-front costs are enormous. Scientists must prove to their management that they have a promising lead on a new medical development. Those same scientists and their associates â or those replacing them â must perform a significant amount of research, and test upon test upon test, in order to prove that the treatment is effective AND to prove that the potential side effects have been identified without them being worse than the disease that they are attempting to cure. Then, there's the government ⦠documentation of every step of the way must be prepared in accordance to strict standards. Finally, they MAY approve it. That all takes time.
Other parties do not WANT things being done slowly and meticulously. Financiers, whether stockholders, bondholders, investment firms, or banks, want as large a return on their investment as quickly as possible. Those afflicted with whatever disease is being investigated certainly do not want to wait for a cure, either â in many cases, they don't have the TIME to wait!!
âThe Antidoteâ takes an in-depth look at all aspects of the forces at work to bring a drug to market. For those who are not as into one of the aspects and pressures of this kind of research, the corresponding sections of the book may seem drawn out â perhaps even boring. However, those with an interest or those with an open mind will find this incredibly interesting and educational.
This book is a suggested read for most. The rest will find a magazine article sufficient to satisfy their needs.
RATING: 4 stars
In âThe Antidoteâ, Mr. Werth follows the history and fortunes, ups and downs, of Massachusetts based pharmaceutical company Vertex. The potential rewards of an effective treatment for a disease can be incredibly lucrative. However, the up-front costs are enormous. Scientists must prove to their management that they have a promising lead on a new medical development. Those same scientists and their associates â or those replacing them â must perform a significant amount of research, and test upon test upon test, in order to prove that the treatment is effective AND to prove that the potential side effects have been identified without them being worse than the disease that they are attempting to cure. Then, there's the government ⦠documentation of every step of the way must be prepared in accordance to strict standards. Finally, they MAY approve it. That all takes time.
Other parties do not WANT things being done slowly and meticulously. Financiers, whether stockholders, bondholders, investment firms, or banks, want as large a return on their investment as quickly as possible. Those afflicted with whatever disease is being investigated certainly do not want to wait for a cure, either â in many cases, they don't have the TIME to wait!!
âThe Antidoteâ takes an in-depth look at all aspects of the forces at work to bring a drug to market. For those who are not as into one of the aspects and pressures of this kind of research, the corresponding sections of the book may seem drawn out â perhaps even boring. However, those with an interest or those with an open mind will find this incredibly interesting and educational.
This book is a suggested read for most. The rest will find a magazine article sufficient to satisfy their needs.
RATING: 4 stars
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
I am writing this review in 2020. The #1 topic around the world this year is a pandemic. This can be broken into sub-topics, such as âwho has / had it?â, âwhat is the infection / survival rate?â, âWhat is my/other government doing about it?â, and âwhen will there be an effective treatment / cure / vaccine?â Those that are interested in a high level look at just what it takes from a scientific and business side at addressing the last question are encouraged to go back a few years and read âThe Antidoteâ by Barry Werth.
In âThe Antidoteâ, Mr. Werth follows the history and fortunes, ups and downs, of Massachusetts based pharmaceutical company Vertex. The potential rewards of an effective treatment for a disease can be incredibly lucrative. However, the up-front costs are enormous. Scientists must prove to their management that they have a promising lead on a new medical development. Those same scientists and their associates â or those replacing them â must perform a significant amount of research, and test upon test upon test, in order to prove that the treatment is effective AND to prove that the potential side effects have been identified without them being worse than the disease that they are attempting to cure. Then, there's the government ⦠documentation of every step of the way must be prepared in accordance to strict standards. Finally, they MAY approve it. That all takes time.
Other parties do not WANT things being done slowly and meticulously. Financiers, whether stockholders, bondholders, investment firms, or banks, want as large a return on their investment as quickly as possible. Those afflicted with whatever disease is being investigated certainly do not want to wait for a cure, either â in many cases, they don't have the TIME to wait!!
âThe Antidoteâ takes an in-depth look at all aspects of the forces at work to bring a drug to market. For those who are not as into one of the aspects and pressures of this kind of research, the corresponding sections of the book may seem drawn out â perhaps even boring. However, those with an interest or those with an open mind will find this incredibly interesting and educational.
This book is a suggested read for most. The rest will find a magazine article sufficient to satisfy their needs.
RATING: 4 stars
In âThe Antidoteâ, Mr. Werth follows the history and fortunes, ups and downs, of Massachusetts based pharmaceutical company Vertex. The potential rewards of an effective treatment for a disease can be incredibly lucrative. However, the up-front costs are enormous. Scientists must prove to their management that they have a promising lead on a new medical development. Those same scientists and their associates â or those replacing them â must perform a significant amount of research, and test upon test upon test, in order to prove that the treatment is effective AND to prove that the potential side effects have been identified without them being worse than the disease that they are attempting to cure. Then, there's the government ⦠documentation of every step of the way must be prepared in accordance to strict standards. Finally, they MAY approve it. That all takes time.
Other parties do not WANT things being done slowly and meticulously. Financiers, whether stockholders, bondholders, investment firms, or banks, want as large a return on their investment as quickly as possible. Those afflicted with whatever disease is being investigated certainly do not want to wait for a cure, either â in many cases, they don't have the TIME to wait!!
âThe Antidoteâ takes an in-depth look at all aspects of the forces at work to bring a drug to market. For those who are not as into one of the aspects and pressures of this kind of research, the corresponding sections of the book may seem drawn out â perhaps even boring. However, those with an interest or those with an open mind will find this incredibly interesting and educational.
This book is a suggested read for most. The rest will find a magazine article sufficient to satisfy their needs.
RATING: 4 stars
