They’re all reborn, what’s wrong with being a little more almighty?

Chapter 171 The big benefactor comes

When he heard that Sinopharm Group was going to invest in the mRNA vaccine project, Zhang Wei instantly understood that this was not to welcome the leader, but to welcome the funder!

These days, those who have money are the bosses, and those rich central enterprises are naturally the bosses among the bosses!

Tsinghua University’s scientific research funding mainly comes from four parts. The first is state appropriation, which is also the bulk of funding and the most stable source of funding.

The second is social donations, and the third is income from scientific research projects. These two items fluctuate greatly and mainly depend on luck.

If you are lucky enough to find a great alumni, you can donate hundreds or even tens of millions in one go. If you're unlucky, you won't be able to catch someone who's been taken advantage of for several years.

The fourth is corporate funding, which is also an important source of funding.

After all, Tsinghua University is the highest university in the country. There are many companies in the society who are willing to cooperate with Tsinghua University to improve their own technology, or let Tsinghua University help them develop new products.

Of course, this kind of cooperation requires money. For general projects, the company will directly support a R&D fund. For larger projects, the two parties will set up a special cooperation agency. After the results are transformed into economic benefits, Tsinghua University will also take a share of the profits. of.

Therefore, Qingda University has always been open to wealthy donors, and the more the better.

"Your scientific research results have been published in Science, so there must be no problem. It seems that Sinopharm still has doubts about the mRNA vaccine. After all, it is a brand-new vaccine. No one has ever done it before. "But it's normal to have doubts," Meng Heming said.

Director Wang cleared his throat and said: "First of all, please allow me to express my most sincere thanks to everyone here. Thank you to Tsinghua University for your careful organization and thoughtful arrangements, which made this exchange so smooth and enjoyable. You all Their enthusiasm, friendliness and professionalism left a deep impression on me...”

Meng Heming nodded: "Academician Qian and I are acquaintances. I just took the opportunity to go to the bathroom and made some inquiries. The results of this inspection are indeed not optimistic."

In the lounge, Zhang Wei was sitting on the sofa, crossing his legs and drinking tea. He felt that he performed quite well.

After a report meeting, Director Wang and three academicians discussed in the room, while others left temporarily.

"After careful consideration and internal discussions, we regretfully decided that we are temporarily unable to cooperate with Tsinghua University on the development of mRNA vaccines. This decision is not due to flaws in the mRNA vaccine project, but is mainly based on the current market environment. , company strategy and resource allocation and other comprehensive considerations.”

"In research and development, isn't it just to do something that others haven't done before? If others haven't done it before, if you don't dare to do it yourself, then you're just trying to pick on others!" Zhang Wei said with a look of disdain.

"Sure enough, the cooperation didn't work out!" Meng Heming sighed, showing a disappointed and expected expression.

The academician of the Academy of Engineering is Zhang Wei's descendant, also surnamed Zhang, and he studies chemistry. The other two academicians of the Academy of Sciences, one surnamed Qian and the other surnamed Li, both study pharmacy.

"Why? Is there a problem with my scientific research results, or is there a problem with the mRNA vaccine?" Zhang Wei asked immediately.

It's no wonder that Tsingta University attaches great importance to this. Only one executive director came to Tsingta University. Principal Gu from Tsingta University and the main leaders of the school all came to greet him, which was considered a face-saving gift.

In the conference room, Zhang Wei gave a brief report, and the content was basically what was described in the paper.

After the daily thanksgiving, we finally got to the point.

Vaccines have always been hens that lay golden eggs. There are more than one billion people in China, and the annual demand for various vaccines is astronomical. If this cooperation project can be achieved, it will probably become the most profitable project at Tsinghua University in the next ten years.

After waiting for more than half an hour, the three academicians finally came up with the results of their discussion, and everyone returned to the conference room.

Among legal businesses, the profitability of the pharmaceutical industry is certainly first-rate. Sinopharm is obviously the top financier in the country, not to mention that this time Sinopharm is coming to inspect the mRNA vaccine project.

"Director Meng, you look like you are not optimistic!" Zhang Wei asked.

"Having said that, business management is not venture capital after all, and central enterprises like Sinopharm also bear huge social responsibilities and must contribute to the health of the people, so safety must still be ranked first. It’s normal to have a conservative strategy,” Meng Heming explained.

However, Meng Heming's expression looked a little serious.

The executive director, whose surname is Wang, looks quite a bit like a scholar. He also brought three academicians as consultants. Two academicians of the Academy of Sciences and one academician of the Academy of Engineering.

Next, the three academician consultants took turns asking some questions. Zhang Wei can answer questions related to experiments, while Meng Heming can answer questions involving more professional biological knowledge.

Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes slightly. If it were another project, it would be impossible if it didn't work. But when faced with the mRNA vaccine being so conservative, Zhang Wei couldn't bear it.

Zhang Wei, who has experienced masks, certainly knows the significance of the mRNA vaccine. This thing is definitely strategic for the country.

When a major public safety incident strikes, making a vaccine one day early will not only save countless lives, but also allow the country to resume normal production as quickly as possible and allow citizens to return to normal life. This kind of strategically important resource, even if I can't be one step ahead of others, I can never give up on my own initiative. At the very least, I have to have what others have!

Thinking of this, Zhang Wei said: "Director Wang, I personally think that you should seriously consider this project. As a new vaccine, the mRNA vaccine can not only bring huge economic benefits, but also bring great benefits to the country." An important strategic asset. As a central enterprise, Sinopharm has the responsibility to accumulate this strategic asset for the country.”

"Mr. Zhang Wei, of course we have considered what you said. But after discussion, the three academicians agreed that compared with traditional inactivated vaccines, mRNA vaccines have no advantages in terms of practicality." Director Wang answered road.

"What is the lack of practical advantages you are referring to? Can you explain it in detail? We can also make subsequent improvements." Zhang Wei then asked.

"We mainly discuss it from four aspects: research and development, production, storage and transportation. Let's talk about storage and transportation first. To maintain the activity of the mRNA vaccine, a low-temperature cold chain system is required. In this regard, traditional inactivated vaccines are definitely more advantageous. Yes." Director Wang said.

"I admit that inactivated vaccines are easier to store and have lower transportation requirements, but if a major public safety incident occurs, the vaccine will be transported at a faster pace, and it will be put into use immediately after it is delivered to the destination. It is impossible Long term storage.

And as our country develops and the transportation network is increasingly improved, the domestic logistics system will definitely improve. When the mRNA vaccine is developed, the domestic logistics system may be able to withstand the more demanding transportation conditions.

What's more, during the research and development process, we can also improve the vaccine to improve its adaptability to normal temperatures and reduce the conditions for vaccine transportation. If it can be transported at minus 18 degrees Celsius, it will be similar to transporting seafood. Ordinary refrigerated trucks can also transport it, and there is no need to establish a special cold chain transportation network. "

After listening to Zhang Wei's words, Director Wang subconsciously looked at the three academicians. The three academicians nodded slightly at the same time, indicating that what Zhang Wei said was indeed reasonable.

"Okay, let's talk about production. For a new vaccine, a new production line must be established, right? We have made an evaluation in this regard. If the mRNA vaccine is successfully developed, it will cost at least 8000 million yuan to build a production line!" Director Wang said.

"8000 million yuan? I think you are too conservative. I estimate that if you don't have to million yuan, you probably won't be able to build an mRNA vaccine production line!" Zhang Wei replied with a smile.

"Four to five billion? Teacher Zhang, you really dare to say that! Our national medicine can't even approve 8000 million yuan, let alone four to five billion yuan!" Director Wang showed a frightened expression.

Zhang Wei said four to five billion, which is not an exaggeration. Historically, Moderna established an mRNA vaccine production base through private equity financing in 2015, and it raised US$4.5 million at that time.

It is a normal conversion to spend US dollars in the United States and RMB in China. It costs 4.5 million US dollars to build a factory in the United States and to million yuan to build a factory in China.

Zhang Wei continued: "For pharmaceutical companies, how much is four to five billion? You Sinopharm make money in minutes. And I just said that the mRNA vaccine will become an important strategic resource for the country. Based on this, You should also invest this money! You are a central enterprise. If you don’t guarantee the country’s strategic resources, are you going to let private enterprises do it?”

When it comes to national needs, let alone RMB 4 to 5 billion, even if the whole family goes bankrupt, Sinopharm still has to invest. Director Wang really can't refute Zhang Wei's statement.

"Okay, let's not talk about production investment. Just talking about R&D investment, the mRNA vaccine is much larger than the inactivated vaccine." Director Wang said.

"Let me explain this!" Academician Qian stood up and said: "Everyone knows the principle of mRNA vaccine, so I won't elaborate on it. I will mainly talk about the development of an mRNA vaccine.

First, we need to determine the target antigen of the vaccine, which is the protein we hope to induce the human immune system to produce antibodies.

Then we need to design and synthesize the mRNA sequence corresponding to the protein coding region of the target virus based on the gene sequence of the target virus.

Next, the synthesized mRNA sequence is packaged to protect it from degradation and attack by the immune system. At this time, you need to use the nucleoside modification technology you developed.

After completing this series of operations, the vaccine will enter the small-scale trial production phase, and then go through clinical trials and make adjustments based on the clinical trial results. Only after a safe and effective finished product is obtained can it enter formal production.

In the whole process, it is very simple to determine the antibody, and it is not difficult to package the synthesized mRNA sequence. With the nucleoside modification technology, it is nothing more than doing a few more experiments.

However, mRNA sequence design and synthesis is a very complex and costly step. I can’t say that it’s completely impossible, but the investment is too great and too difficult.

With existing gene editing technology, it is possible to edit a viral mRNA sequence, but it is really difficult to specifically edit the mRNA sequence corresponding to a certain protein coding region of the virus.

If we are not lucky, it may take several years to edit the mRNA sequence we want! This level alone can stump most R&D personnel!

It is also for this reason that after careful consideration, we believe that with the existing gene editing technology, the conditions for developing an mRNA vaccine are not yet mature! "

"Existing gene editing technology?"

Hearing this word, a confident smile appeared on Zhang Wei's face.

Isn’t it just a lack of advanced gene editing technology? I have it!

(End of this chapter)