"If anything happens to him and we refuse a therapy that might save him because of procedural reasons," the President said slowly, "what will the public say? Will the headline of the New York Tis be ’Bureaucracy Kills Arican Entrepreneur’?"
No one answered, but everyone knew the answer.
"What about the political impact?" the President asked his Chief of Staff.
"The Senate Health Committee has received over fifty thousand letters from voters demanding expedited approval. Twenty-three patient advocacy groups will hold a rally at the Washington Monunt tomorrow. Over on Wall Street... BG Group’s stock has dropped 18% in the past two weeks, but interestingly, analysts predict it will spike over 40% if the FDA approval is announced."
The President stood up and walked to the window, where the Washington Monunt stood tall in the distance under the sunlight.
"Allen," he said without turning back, "from a professional standpoint, do you think this technology is worth the risk?"
Dr. Wilson took a deep breath: "Mr. President, I have been in tumor science research for forty years, and this is the most revolutionary breakthrough I have ever seen. It might open a whole new treatnt paradigm. If we refuse, Europe, Japan, even Singapore will scramble to cooperate, and we will truly fall behind."
"Catherine," the President turned to the National Security Advisor, "if we approve, what’s the worst-case scenario?"
"Technology dependence, data security risks, and possibly opening the floodgates for more Chinese biotechnology to enter the US market in similar ways."
The President nodded and returned to his desk, tapping his fingers gently on the surface.
"Here’s the decision." He finally spoke, "Issue a Presidential Special Authorization to approve K Therapy for ’Ergency Humanitarian Clinical Trials’ in the US, initially allowing treatnt for no more than ten critically ill patients. But there are conditions: first, all treatnt data must be shared in real-ti with the National Institutes of Health, USA; second, the treatnt must take place at Johns Hopkins Hospital with full participation of the Arican dical team; third, if severe adverse events occur, the authorization will be imdiately terminated; fourth..." he paused, "this matter should be handled discreetly, docunts marked under ’National Security Exemption’, and not go through the regular approval disclosure process."
"Will Li Gaoyang be the first?" the Chief of Staff asked.
"He fought for it himself, didn’t he?" the President said aningfully, "Tell the FDA, the docunts must be issued by five o’clock this afternoon. But rember, this is an exception, not a precedent."
When the encrypted ssage reached New York Presbyterian Hospital, Li Gaoyang already looked extrely weak. Rolf leaned down to his ear and said word by word: "Approved, you will beco the first person in the US to receive K Therapy."
Li Gaoyang’s eyes slightly opened, a glimr of light flickered in his cloudy eyes. With all his strength, he whispered in a barely audible voice: "Go to China... as soon as possible..."
...
At Ruixing Headquarters, Huang Jiacai imdiately convened an urgent strategic eting upon receiving the notification from the US side.
"Li Gaoyang really is resourceful! Presidential Special Authorization, limited to ten people, with four attached conditions." Huang Jiacai projected the summary of the docunt on the screen, "What does this an?"
The legal advisor spoke first: "It ans the US did not go through the regular approval channel but used administrative privileges to open a small loophole. This is both recognition of the technology and a restriction on us—they want to obtain data, learn the technology, but do not want to officially open the market."
"Is Professor Yang ready?" Huang Jiacai asked.
"Sanbo Research Institute’s technology is already mature and can start K Treatnt at any ti," Song Zimo answered, representing Yang Ping in the eting, "but we insist on two points: first, the treatnt must be conducted at our research institute; second, we refuse any Arican personnel participation."
"The US side won’t agree to send the patient to China." Soone expressed concerns.
"Then there is no room for negotiation," Song Zimo firmly stated, "K Therapy is not a simple drug injection but a complex treatnt protocol, involving targeted viral vector construction, individualized dose calculation, and post-treatnt monitoring. Any misstep could be fatal. Currently, only our institute has the complete execution capability."
"Li Gaoyang is a special Arican, and the involvent of Arican dical personnel in the treatnt is sothing they might not compromise on." The person who raised the concern continued.
Song Zimo answered clearly: "This is not a negotiation, they are asking, and we are not sure if we will accept it. Tell them it is impossible to have Arican dical personnel involved; they don’t have the technical qualifications to participate in K Therapy."
"Li Gaoyang’s treatnt data can be shared with them," Song Zimo added.
Huang Jiacai was silent for a mont, then said: "Reply to the US side: the treatnt will still be conducted in China at the Sanbo Research Institute, without allowing Arican dical personnel involvent, but all data will be shared in real-ti. Simultaneously, as an exchange, the US side must publicly commit to initiating the formal approval process of K Therapy after the initial clinical trial ends."
"Is that enough?" soone asked.
"For Li Gaoyang, it’s enough, and for us, it’s enough too," Huang Jiacai stood up, "For him, every minute counts in the race against death. And for the US authorities, they need this case to showcase humanitarianism while gaining critical technical data. We also gain their acknowledgnt of this technology and use the opportunity to promote it worldwide."
He turned to his assistant: "Inform Rolf from BG Group that if they agree to our conditions, they can imdiately send Li Gaoyang over."
The orders were issued, and the machine began to operate.
Forty-eight hours later, a Gulfstream G650 dical jet landed at Nandu International Airport. The plane had been specially modified and equipped with a complete intensive care unit, with Li Gaoyang under the care of dical personnel and various monitoring instrunts throughout the flight.
On the runway next to the airport, Sanbo Hospital’s mobile ICU vehicles were already on standby. When the cabin door opened, Rolf was the first to step off the ladder, his face filled with exhaustion and anxiety. In the past seventy-two hours, he had barely closed his eyes, coordinating the complex transfer across half the globe.
"President Huang, Dr. Song," Rolf shook hands with the welcoming Chinese team, his palms sweaty, "we et again, thank you for everything you’ve done, Mr. Li Gaoyang’s condition... is very bad."
Following right behind Rolf was John Ansen, who grasped Song Zimo’s hand without speaking.
Song Zimo nodded, skipping formalities, and headed straight for the ambulance: "First to the hospital, check the data on the way."
The convoy raced towards the Sanbo Research Institute. Inside the vehicle, Song Zimo quickly browsed through the latest imaging and biochemical indicators of Li Gaoyang on his tablet, his brow furrowing deeper and deeper.
"The tumor volu has increased by 27% compared to two weeks ago," he said to John Ansen, who was in the sa vehicle, "The invasion range is expanding, and the cerebral edema is significant. We must first perform external ventricular drainage to reduce intracranial pressure, otherwise, even before starting treatnt, it could result in cerebral herniation."
The graduate student next to him quickly took notes.
"Observe for 24 hours after drainage. If vital signs stabilize, then initiate the first phase of K Therapy."
Sitting opposite, Rolf asked nervously: "How big is the risk?"
Yang Ping lifted his head, his gaze calm: "Any treatnt has risks, but for Mr. Li Gaoyang’s current condition, the risk of not treating is a 100% mortality, the risk of treatnt... our assessnt is a 50% success rate."
"Only 50%?" Rolf’s voice trembled.
"That’s an optimistic estimate," Song Zimo said, "If it had been three months earlier, the success rate could be over 80%. But now, the tumor burden is too large, and his overall condition is too poor, but we’ll still do our best."
Rolf closed his eyes, took a deep breath: "He himself knows this probability, he said that no matter what, he wants to try."
"So things... I know should not be said in this setting, but on behalf of Mr. Li Gaoyang, I must say... sorry, thank you for accepting us," Rolf said in a grateful tone.
User Comments
0 comments from readers