Super Copy of Great Power Technology

The remaining five who failed the enhancement will not experience any physical discomfort. Regarding side effects, those who successfully enhanced will still experience a decrease in fertility, but it's not too severe; at most, the number of successful pregnancies will increase from one to two, which most people can tolerate. Unfortunately, this version of the gene-enhancing drug remains expensive to produce, making it unsuitable for mass production and sales. Currently, only a small batch of tens of thousands of doses has been produced for testing by astronauts, researchers, and the military.

The newly developed fourth-generation gene-enhancing drug is based on the third-generation product, with a simplified formula and substituted raw materials, resulting in a significant reduction in production costs. The good news is that the new gene-enhancing drug has extremely high applicability, effective for over 99% of the population, with virtually no side effects. The previously troublesome issue of reduced fertility is no longer present. Furthermore, during clinical trials, researchers found that the drug can significantly enhance the body's immune system and has therapeutic effects on numerous diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, rheumatism, and even cancer and HIV, which are considered incurable. It almost seems like a panacea. The bad news is that compared to the third-generation product, the fourth-generation product's efficacy is significantly reduced again. Successful enhancers only achieve about five to ten times the physical fitness of an adult male. Moreover, this generation of product appears to be effective only for people of Asian descent; all the Caucasian and Black participants in the clinical trials failed to enhance their genes.

Researchers later conducted an in-depth analysis of this phenomenon and discovered that it might be related to differences in racial DNA. Specifically, the fourth-generation gene-enhancing agent reactivates the expression of several dormant genes in the human body, thereby strengthening it. However, these recessive genes are prevalent in East Asians, but absent in Caucasians and Africans. This was not a perfect coincidence, but rather the result of Qiao Ruida's deliberate manipulation. After this finding, some researchers proposed developing a gene-enhancing agent specifically for Caucasians and Africans, but this was rejected by Qiao Ruida. Qiao Ruida's initial replication of the soldier's serum and the significant resources invested in subsequent research were all aimed at comprehensively enhancing the physical fitness of the Chinese people, creating a new era where everyone was like a dragon, and preparing for the upcoming interstellar voyage. As for how foreigners would survive in the interstellar age, that was none of Qiao Ruida's concern.

For certain professions, such as astronauts, pilots, firefighters, and military and police personnel, the higher the physical enhancement effect, the better. However, for ordinary people, five to ten times the enhancement might be just right. For those suffering from chronic diseases or terminal illnesses, the number of times their physical fitness is enhanced is not important; what matters most is the ability to treat their diseases and help them regain their health.

The fourth-generation gene-enhancing drug has now completed Phase III clinical trials, obtained a production license, and entered the mass production stage. All that's left is to hold a press conference and officially launch it for sale. However, before the press conference, a pricing issue needs to be resolved. Therefore, key personnel from Ruida Pharmaceuticals and some senior executives of the group held an internal meeting specifically to discuss this matter. At the meeting, everyone spoke freely and expressed their opinions.

"I think StrongBase-4 (the simplified name for the fourth-generation gene enhancement drug) should be sold at a low price, just enough to cover production. After all, our company initially initiated the research and development of human gene enhancement drugs to comprehensively enhance the physical fitness of Chinese people in order to adapt to long-term space life."

“I object. Do you know what the production cost of Strong Foundation No. 4 is? After large-scale mass production, the production cost of each dose is only about 1,000 yuan. And our Ruida Pharmaceutical Company has invested no less than 10 billion yuan in the research and development of this drug. If each dose of Strong Foundation No. 4 only sells for 1,200 or 1,300 yuan, have you calculated how many doses we would need to sell to cover the research and development costs?”

"I also don't agree with selling at a low price. Our Strong Foundation No. 4 not only enhances physical fitness, but also significantly strengthens the human immune system, and has a therapeutic effect on more than 80% of human diseases. Have you all thought about it? If Strong Foundation No. 4 only sells for a little over a thousand yuan, it will cause all patients with diseases to buy Strong Foundation No. 4 for treatment. As a result, so many hospitals and so many medical staff will all lose their jobs. This is no longer a simple drug pricing issue, but a social problem involving tens of thousands of hospitals and tens of millions of medical staff across the country."

"Given the efficacy of Strong Foundation No. 4, a price of 100,000 yuan per dose is not high. Haven't you seen some foreign drugs for treating cancer or HIV that sell for hundreds of thousands of yuan per dose, and their efficacy is not as good as our Strong Foundation No. 4?"

"I admit that the efficacy of Strong Foundation No. 4 is indeed somewhat abnormal, and it can effectively treat most diseases. If it is sold at a low price, it may cause some medical staff to lose their jobs. But we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater and set a high price that ordinary people can't afford. Otherwise, how are we any different from those foreign pharmaceutical companies that only care about making money and don't care about the lives of patients?"

……

Inside the meeting room, dozens of company executives were divided into two sides, arguing fiercely. One side supported a high price, arguing that the efficacy of the Strong Foundry No. 4 was undeniable and that even at a high price, sales would be guaranteed. The other side insisted on low profit margins and high sales volume to benefit the public. Each side held its ground, arguing incessantly for two hours without reaching a consensus. Finally, all eyes turned to Qiao Ruida, who was chairing the meeting, awaiting his decision on the final price of the Strong Foundry No. 4.

Qiao Ruida frowned and pondered for a moment before speaking, "If the price is too high, most ordinary people won't be able to afford it, which goes against our original intention in developing this drug. If the price is too low, it will impact the existing medical industry and cause a large number of medical staff to lose their jobs. Let's compromise and price it at around 10,000 yuan per dose. Terminally ill patients can afford it if they grit their teeth, and patients with ordinary diseases who are unwilling to spend so much money can choose other cheaper treatment methods. In this way, our company can quickly recover the research and development costs, and it will not cause a large number of hospitals to close down or medical staff to lose their jobs. The impact is basically controllable."

The big boss approved the drug's price, and naturally, no one else present objected. Thus, the price of Qiangji No. 4 was set. A week later, Ruida Pharmaceutical Company held a grand new drug launch conference, and Qiangji No. 4 officially went on sale. When the drug first hit the market, patients weren't particularly interested, and sales were consistently very low. The reason, upon closer examination, was that the advertised effects of Qiangji No. 4 were far too exaggerated. Claims included tenfold enhancement of physical fitness, improved brain memory and logical thinking, comprehensive strengthening of the immune system, and treatment of hundreds of basic diseases. These claims, akin to a panacea, were comparable to the over-hyped health products of previous years, so it's no wonder people didn't believe them. (End of Chapter)