Chapter 54

"Hey, Yulia, where are your four bodyguards?" Hu Wenhui looked around, puzzled, and asked.

Yulia brushed her hair with her hand. Today, she had even put on some makeup, and her demeanor exuded a faint charm. This was a stark contrast to the businesslike expression Hu Wenhai had seen on her last time.

"That's not my bodyguards." Yulia, wearing high heels, walked to the entrance of the laboratory building. After greeting Hu Wenhai and the security guard, she pushed open the door and came out.

"They are my relatives. They have already taken Xiaomila home." She explained, gestured for him to enter, and led Hu Wenhai into the laboratory building.

"Oh, I see." Hu Wenhai nodded, not pressing further into her personal affairs, and instead asked about what interested him: "My commission was completed so quickly? Your design efficiency is impressive!"

"Almost there." Yulia shook her head, seemingly a bit embarrassed that her work wasn't finished: "Mr. Andrew called you here. I think there has been some progress in the clinical trials."

"Oh, I see." Hu Wenhai understood; the clinical side must have discovered the true purpose of the blue pill.

To Hu Wenhai, this was an inevitable development. If Pfizer could discover it, there was no reason Cold Spring Harbor couldn't. Moreover, with the immediate effects of the blue pill, no man would willingly give up such a powerful drug.

The only question now was Cold Spring Harbor's stance.

Fortunately, Hu Wenhai didn't have to wait long for an answer. Andrew received him in the reception room next to his laboratory and immediately threw a contract on the table.

"Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory hopes to acquire the patent for sildenafil citrate from Mr. Hu. What are your terms?"

Although Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a non-profit institution, it is far from being a "poor" organization. It is, in fact, a high-flying, wealthy entity. In the 1980s, it could afford human genome sequencing projects, which required hundreds of millions of dollars.

But even with its wealth, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory would never complain about having too much money. Holding the patent for the blue pill, whether through a subsidiary or in collaboration with large pharmaceutical companies, the profits could even support Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in completing the Human Genome Project on its own.

No scientist would complain about too much glory. If it weren't for the limitations, Watson wouldn't have pushed for international cooperation in the Human Genome Project.

Now, with such a golden opportunity presented to him, how could he be polite?

Hu Wenhai didn't even look at the document on the table; he had already made up his mind.

Pfizer, though with a long history, was only a top-tier pharmaceutical company before the new millennium, far from being all-powerful. Its greatest achievement was making a fortune selling antibiotics during World War II.

For a long time, Pfizer had made innovations in the antibiotic field, but the world was not short of antibiotic options. It wasn't a monopoly, and the profits were hard-earned.

It wasn't until the new millennium, with the emergence of the blue pill, that Pfizer achieved its decisive breakthrough in the biotech industry. From 1998 to 2009, Pfizer's market value increased at least a hundredfold, reaching over $200 billion.

In other words, the value of this company was nearly 2 trillion RMB. Similar to China's 4 trillion RMB stimulus plan in the same period, which caused a tsunami in China's macroeconomy, Pfizer's value might have a similar impact.

And all this success ultimately came from those blue pills. This revelation shocked many, showing that the male economy could rival the electronics industry as an economic engine.

So, how much should such a patent be worth? Hu Wenhai really wanted to ask Andrew if Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory could afford it even if it sold everything.

However, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory had a good reputation, and Hu Wenhai wasn't unwilling to give them a chance.

Hu Wenhai rested his elbow on the armrest of the sofa, crossed his hands under his chin, and said, like Gendo Ikari, "I am very welcome to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's cooperation..."

"It's not cooperation, but acquisition." Andrew firmly interrupted Hu Wenhai, setting the tone for the conversation.

"Whatever, it's up to you." Hu Wenhai smiled, not arguing over the details, and continued, "My terms are simple: a $1 billion signing fee and a 10% royalty on the final product price."

The truth often doesn't change with one's will. Hu Wenhai knew that in negotiations, the louder the voice, the weaker the position. Truly powerful people speak softly but command attention.

As soon as Hu Wenhai spoke, the reception room fell silent, as if even breathing had stopped.

Andrew was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses, looking at Hu Wenhai as if he had seen a ghost, and exclaimed, "A billion dollars? Are you sure!"

His tone was as if a cannibal in the Amazon jungle was preparing lunch.

"Mr. Andrew, you misunderstood." Hu Wenhai smiled, seeing Andrew visibly relax, and continued, "The billion is just the signing fee for agreeing to the license. In addition, the real royalty is 10% of the final product price."

"You're crazy! That's impossible." Andrew, feeling manipulated, shouted in anger.

"Oh, then there's nothing I can do." Hu Wenhai shrugged, innocently saying, "I think other companies might be interested in sildenafil, given that Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory wants to acquire it."

"Uh—"

Andrew, a scientist, not a professional businessman, realized his eagerness had given the upper hand to his opponent. But it didn't matter; Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory still had a trump card.

"Wow, I think Mr. Hu has misunderstood. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory only sees potential in further developing this drug. We are interested, but that doesn't mean it's worth a lot."

Andrew, inwardly cursing "cunning and greedy Chinese," had to open the document and show it to Hu Wenhai, saying, "You can see that the drug's clinical trial results are mediocre, with no significant advantages. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is willing to pay $10 million for the patent mainly because we see potential in the inhibitor approach, not because your drug is really worth much."

Clearly, the report Andrew gave Hu Wenhai was not fake. Cold Spring Harbor wouldn't stoop to providing false data. However, not telling the whole truth is a common business tactic. If someone falls for it, they often become a famous case study in business schools. No one would criticize this approach, as it's just about discovering "a market others haven't seen."

According to the report, sildenafil citrate's clinical efficacy for angina was quite average, far from the mainstream market drugs. If priced according to market rules, this drug might not even recoup the $1 million commission Hu Wenhai paid.

In that case, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory was being quite fair? That is, if Hu Wenhai didn't know the true value of the blue pill.

"Since that's the case, I won't trouble Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory anymore." Hu Wenhai closed the document and threw it back to Andrew, indifferent, saying, "I have plans to continue developing sildenafil. Since Cold Spring Harbor recognizes its potential, I'll invest in it myself. There's no need to sell the patent."

Andrew sat down again, earnestly advising, "However, I don't recommend that. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a world-class molecular biology lab. We have the capability to develop it, which other labs might not, or it would take them much longer. Frankly, U.S. patent law requires patents to be commercialized within three years, or the patent rights will be revoked."

"Oh, that's not a problem." Hu Wenhai said generously, "That's why I commissioned Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to develop the production technology. I can start with small-scale production and then enter the market."

"So, Mr. Hu doesn't plan to sell the patent to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory?"

"Sorry." Hu Wenhai ignored Andrew's threats, saying casually, "A mere $10 million isn't enough to interest me."

"That's a shame..."

"Yes, it's a shame, but that's business."

"Indeed, business." Andrew sighed in agreement, then stood up and walked to the door of the lounge next to the reception room, opening it.

"Allow me to introduce you." Andrew pointed to a white man who walked out of the lounge, "This is Baldwin, a patent lawyer from the New York Baker Law Firm. He has been commissioned by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to handle any patent disputes with you regarding the sildenafil drug."

"Hello, Mr. Hu from China. You can call me Baldwin. Here is my business card." Baldwin wore a well-tailored black suit, looking sharp and professional.

"Oh, it seems Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory isn't as innocent as I thought." Hu Wenhai's face showed no surprise.

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