San Francisco in May, under the influence of the Pacific California cold current, carried a thick chill in the moist air. The usually bustling streets were now almost devoid of pedestrians. Occasionally, one or two people, wrapped up so tightly that no wind could penetrate, would dart across the road. They would walk briskly, not daring to linger for even a moment. They even hesitated to take deep breaths, as the pervasive scent of disinfectant in the air induced feelings of nausea, fear, and despair. No one knew if they might be the next to inexplicably fall in the streets.
Shops lining the streets remained shut. This pivotal financial center of the American West was barely showing signs of life, kept alive by a few convenience stores and pharmacies with half-open doors. San Francisco was a hotspot for the "Super Brainwave ", and many of its residents had fled. But truly, there was nowhere to run; Super Brainwave had spread to every corner of the globe where humans resided.
After exiting the Nofi building, Chen Chen followed Ulysses into his Maybach. Ulysses invited Chen Chen to visit the Nofi Medical Center to see their latest research results.
"Has Nofi identified the pathogen of Super Brainwave ?" Chen Chen asked anxiously as soon as he got in the car. What Ulysses had said at the award ceremony momentarily distracted Chen from the anxiety over Xia Nan's disappearance. The previously despondent look on Chen's face had been replaced by a glimmer of hope.
"Unfortunately, the scientific team at Nofi has not detected it yet," Ulysses replied, spreading his hands and shrugging helplessly.
"Then the drug you mentioned that treats Super Brainwave is —" Chen Chen asked, genuinely surprised.
"It was an accidental discovery!" Ulysses said with a slight smirk.
"You accidentally found a drug that can treat Super Brainwave ?" Chen Chen turned to look at him with a puzzled expression.
"Exactly. Accidents in research aren't always a bad thing," Ulysses said as he took a cigar from a delicate case, smelled it, and continued, "Chen Chen, you should know this well."
Ulysses was right. Chen Chen nodded thoughtfully, recalling that scientific research is indeed full of surprises. For instance, Viagra was originally a drug meant for heart diseases. However, clinical trials revealed it had little effect on the heart but could rapidly dilate blood vessels. This accidental discovery resulted in a globally popular erectile dysfunction drug. Another thrilling discovery for Chen Chen — a substance temporarily named MTX — also came about by accident.
During his PhD, he was studying communication between neural cells in a petri dish using fluorescent dyes. One day, he observed that the communication among the neural cells was much stronger than usual, emitting an intense glow. After repeated analysis, he realized he had made a mistake in the experiment by adding an excess amount of magnesium ions. This accidental discovery led to significant findings, showing that magnesium ions greatly enhance communication between neural networks, leading to the development of MTX.
"How was it discovered? Which drug is it?" Unsatisfied with the given answer, Chen Chen probed further.
Ulysses took his time, expertly cutting the cap off his cigar. The commotion at the award ceremony didn't seem to have affected his mood. Holding the cigar over the flame of a lighter, he began, "About half a month ago, a patient undergoing clinical trials for Antamin was found to be infected with the Super Brainwave. His symptoms were effectively controlled. After a small-scale trial, we believe Antamin is very effective for Super Brainwave patients."
"Antamin? The drug Nofi developed to treat Alzheimer's disease? The one that was approved by the FDA for clinical trials just last month?" Chen Chen emphasized the word "Antamin" as if to ensure he'd heard correctly.
"Yes," Ulysses confirmed, focusing on lighting his cigar.
"But you won't disclose the chemical formula of Antamin," Chen Chen blurted out, immediately regretting the unprofessional remark.
"Nofi spent 6 years and 2 billion dollars developing Antamin," Ulysses said solemnly, pausing for a moment before continuing, "But Nofi might consider offering it for free. This is a disaster for all of humanity."
Chen Chen looked at Ulysses in amazement. He hadn't expected Nofi to contemplate giving up such a lucrative opportunity. What Chen Chen admired most about Ulysses was his dedication to Alzheimer's drug research. This showed Chen that Ulysses was not just a businessman. His background in neuroscience made him stand out from other pharmaceutical manufacturers, giving him a deeper passion for exploring the brain.
The rate of failure in Alzheimer's drug development is alarmingly high, earning it the moniker "the graveyard of developers." Many of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have met with defeat in this field. Over the past 20 years, 146 Alzheimer's drug development attempts have failed, with only four making it to the market. These marketed drugs have not been very effective. Alzheimer's drug development had seen no significant advancements in 17 years.
Many pharmaceutical giants have lost faith in this domain, stopping their exploration. Some even began doubting if the amyloid-beta plaques, which are hypothesized to cause Alzheimer's, were leading them in the wrong direction. This could be why there hasn't been a breakthrough in Alzheimer's drug research for decades.
Nofi had faced two failures in the past six years, and Antamin was their third attempt. It was just entering phase one of clinical trials, and its efficacy against Alzheimer's remained uncertain. If the trials failed, the six years and 2 billion dollars would go down the drain. But now, if they can prove that Antamin effectively treats the Super Brainwave, Nofi can recoup their investment early, perhaps even making a significant profit.
"History will remember this noble act of yours," Chen Chen said, looking at Ulysses with admiration.
Ulysses laughed heartily and patted Chen Chen on the shoulder, saying, "History will remember you too."
------
The car raced down the empty road. Not far away, an ambulance was parked, and two medical personnel dressed in thick protective suits were lifting a patient who was barely alive into the vehicle.
"Another case of Super Brainwave, and he looks quite young," Ulysses glanced out of the window.
The ambulance parked by the side of the road close to Ulysses went unnoticed by Chen Chen at first. But when he saw the scene, he felt chills running down his spine, as if his heart was about to jump out of his throat!
"Stop the car, stop the car!" Chen Chen, gripping the back of the co-driver's seat, shouted in English at the driver.
The driver, seemingly startled, stomped on the brakes before even processing the situation. "Sssshh—" An emergency brake.
Before the car even came to a complete stop, Chen Chen hastily opened the door and dashed towards the ambulance. He distinctly felt his legs shaking, his body unstable. When he reached the middle of the road and saw the patient's anguished and twisted facial expression, he suddenly stopped. It wasn't Xia Nan! Bending over with his hands on his knees, he took a long breath, realizing that besides a similar white top, this patient looked nothing like Xia Nan.
"Sorry, I mistook the person!" Back in the car, Chen Chen apologized to Ulysses and the driver for his behavior.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Having not slept all night, his eyes were bloodshot. Perhaps due to stress and lack of oxygen, he was hallucinating. These days, he had seen too many victims of the Super Brainwave and witnessed terrifying deaths, leaving him somewhat numb. Chen Chen gazed out of the window, lost in thought.
One, two, three... he imagined himself in a morgue, slowly cutting open the skin of a Super Brainwave victim with a scalpel. Blood slowly seeped out, then gushed from the arteries, splashing all over the morgue. He smelled the strong scent of blood, and felt as if he was being choked and dragged into a bloody abyss. It's an illusion! Dead people don't bleed like that!
Chen Chen pinched his thigh to break the terrifying train of thought, finding it strange that he had such hallucinations.
"Is something bothering you? Just let me know if you need help." Ulysses had noticed Chen Chen's distraction from the moment he first saw him at the award ceremony. He had always been concerned about this young scientist, not only because Chen Chen's father had been his friend, but also due to Chen Chen's ongoing research—MTX.
"I'm just tired," Chen Chen brushed it off. He couldn't tell Ulysses about Xia Nan's deception and sudden disappearance. In front of others, he needed to maintain his dignity, a demand his father had made since he was a child.
Chen Chen glanced at his phone; it was already 5 pm. The messages he sent to Xia Nan had gone unanswered. He felt fear, growing more and more afraid, angry at Xia Nan's deceit but even more terrified of losing her. His emotions were in turmoil.
He suddenly realized that over the past three years, he and Xia Nan had grown apart. Despite the harmonious relationship they seemed to have, they lacked the intimacy typical of couples. Intimacy was a sensitive area in their lives. Even when they shared the same bed, Xia Nan would always have her own blanket.
"How's the progress on MTX?" Ulysses tactfully changed the subject, being more interested in MTX than any of Chen Chen's award-winning research.
MTX was essential for China's leading position in the global brain engineering competition, but for Ulysses, MTX had another significant use. Chen Chen had mentioned MTX in a previous academic discussion. Ulysses had heard about MTX's wonders from Professor Albert, who had casually mentioned it while discussing a memory extractor.
"It's still ongoing, and there are some problems," Chen Chen replied seriously.
"Interested in collaborating with Nofi? No matter how much funding you need, Nofi can provide," Ulysses offered, taking a deep drag from his cigar.
"It's not about the money; MTX has encountered some obstacles when crossing the blood-brain barrier."
"Can you tell me more about it? Maybe I can help," Ulysses suggested, rotating the cigar in his fingers, enjoying the sensation more than the taste.
"When diluted 10,000 times, MTX loses its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. But if the concentration is increased, its potency becomes too strong."
"10,000 times?" Ulysses pressed.
"Yes, it has to be diluted at least 10,000 times to be used in humans."
"What's the main ingredient?"
"Magnesium—" Chen Chen stopped abruptly, realizing he almost revealed too much.
Ulysses smirked, "Not ready to share?"
"It would be better to speak of it after it's successful," Chen Chen tried hard to restrain himself. For some reason, he felt an urge to spill the secret, but his rationale told him he mustn't. He raised his right hand to his lips, rubbing them back and forth, reminding himself through this gesture to keep the secret.
The two fell silent, only to be interrupted by an excited voice from the car radio broadcasting the news rapidly.
"Dr. Edith, Director-General of the World Health Organization, stated on the 25th while summarizing the global battle against the 'Super Brainwave ' over the past three months that it's the most serious infectious disease of this century. However, it's just one of over 50 serious cross-border infectious diseases faced by the WHO and various countries. Super Brainwave has caught the attention of the global medical, scientific, political, and public communities, helping the world understand the severity of this infectious disease and the importance of international cooperation in facing this threat.
Edith pointed out that to effectively deal with the outbreak of Super Brainwave, individual countries' efforts alone are not enough; cooperation between countries, regions, and institutions needs to be strengthened.
At the WHO Global Super Brainwave Conference held in London, Edith stated that openly sharing information and resources can save more lives; the world's best scientists and clinicians should abandon competition and selflessly cooperate to overcome potential common threats."
Is that really the case? Chen Chen wondered. Glancing at Ulysses, he saw the man engrossed in his cigar, a hint of disdain on his lips.
"The WHO named this deadly disease 'Super Brainwave ' based merely on its high fever, nausea, skin bruises, signs of meningeal irritation, increased intracranial pressure, and acute adrenal insufficiency," Chen Chen remarked.
"It's a desperate measure. The cerebrospinal fluid test for antigens is negative, and no pathogens can be found. The disease is categorized based on its symptoms," Ulysses responded.
"I feel like we're in 15th-century Europe, trying to find a cure for the Black Death without knowing about the existence of microbes. It seems impossible," Ulysses continued, finishing his cigar. In his half-closed eyes, a mist seemed to linger, obscuring his gaze.
------
Half an hour later, the iconic sky-blue buildings of the Nofi Medical Center were clearly visible. Located about 35 miles south of San Francisco in Palo Alto and adjacent to Stanford University, it's one of the largest medical research centers in the US. It's the main teaching hospital for Stanford University School of Medicine, globally leading in areas like cancer treatment and neurosurgery. In the latest "World's Best Hospitals" ranking, Nofi Medical Center ranked in the top ten. Notably, it's the youngest hospital on the list, having been established just 20 years ago.
The outpatient center's entrance was filled with police cars, much to Ulysses' displeasure. Such disturbances were not uncommon since the outbreak of Super Brainwave . Restive relatives of patients often created chaos in the hospital, further pressuring the already overloaded medical staff. The medical center had previously requested support from the local police, but they were declined due to a lack of available forces.
"These foolish citizens always think that if a patient can't be saved, it's the doctor's or the hospital's fault!" Ulysses said, a hint of anger in his tone. He gestured for the driver to head to the main hospital building.
The car stopped in front of the Nofi Medical Center's main building. After the outbreak in San Francisco, there was a shortage of 30,000 hospital beds. Many diagnosed Super Brainwave patients had to stay in outpatient rooms. Nofi Medical Center had allocated Ward 2 specifically for critically ill Super Brainwave patients to prevent hospital-acquired infections.
Ulysses headed straight to Ward 2, with Chen Chen following closely. After passing through the protective area of Ward 2, the staff helped them into full protective gear. The Director of Clinical Epidemiology, Nathan, had been waiting there. The efficacy of Antamin in treating Super Brainwave was his discovery.
"Currently, the first batch of 8 Super Brainwave patients treated with Antamin have been discharged after recovery! The condition of another 20 has been effectively controlled!" Nathan reported to Ulysses as they stepped into the elevator.
The elevator stopped at the 15th floor. This floor was dedicated to clinical trials of antamin for Super Brainwave, and only Nofi's staff were allowed in. Chen Chen was the first non-Nofi employee to enter, and Ulysses' exceptional trust in him was surprising.
In the bright and spacious ward, Chen Chen witnessed a scene completely different from other hospitals treating Super Brainwave. The patients looked spirited, with hardly any signs of distress on their faces.
These were critically ill Super Brainwave patients. Based on previous treatment experiences, they seemed to be on a one-way path to death. As Chen Chen reviewed the treatment records hanging beside the patients' beds, the words seemed like the most heartening thing he'd seen in three months. His eyes darted over the English characters on the case paper, occasionally taking deep breaths, finding the information astonishing.
"Chen Chen, the reason I invited you here today is to hear your thoughts. We've just submitted an application to the WHO to initiate compassionate drug use worldwide. The WHO is reviewing it and planning to hold a special research meeting on Antamin," Ulysses said with fervor, "You are the head of the Super Brainwave Expert Group in China."
"We believe it's already extremely urgent." Nathan, standing on Ulysses' right side, added with a grave expression.
"Yes, every second counts." Chen Chen heaved a sigh. Just as he was about to continue, he paused, realizing his identity as the head of China's Super Brainwave expert group. "Apart from Antamins, no other drugs have been used?"
With a puzzled look, Chen Chen glanced at Nathan. In the treatment record, he found no mention of the use of any other medication, not even anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics.
"No, after using Antamins, these patients stopped all other medications," Nathan raised his eyebrows, "This is the best proof. It's the Antamin that cured them."
"What about side effects? Were there any adverse reactions in the patients?" Chen Chen inquired further. Clinical trials not only test the efficacy but also the toxicity of a drug.
"There were no adverse reactions whatsoever!" Nathan handed over a stack of patient reports. "Whether it's the early Alzheimer's clinical trial participants or the Super Brainwave patients, all test results are within normal range."
"The earliest group of Alzheimer's testers took the drug for a month, all tests were normal; Super Brainwave patients took it for half a month, tests were also normal. But looking at the timeline, the safety of the drug is far from being confirmed. Based on the therapeutic effects..." Chen Chen quickly scanned the reports, murmuring rapidly to himself. This was a habit of his, which he used to accelerate his thinking process.
It's plausible that an Antamin, which affects the nervous system, could be effective against Super Brainwave. The current evidence was compelling. Nofi, the drug company, has always been at the forefront of international new drug research and is known for its rigor...
Chen Chen's mind was racing. In the situation he was in, he didn't have much time to think thoroughly. He felt he was missing something. What was it? Right, the dosage!
"Just one Antamin pill—" Chen Chen was interrupted mid-sentence by an urgent female voice.
"Dr. Nathan, a Super Brainwave patient on the 28th floor is critically ill. The family agrees to try the new drug, they are bringing him now!" A stout female nurse rushed in.
Nathan immediately followed the nurse out. Ulysses motioned for Chen Chen to follow, "You can come and see."
The patient had lapsed into a deep coma. By this stage, Chen Chen knew the situation was nearly hopeless. After a quick check, Nathan gave a simple instruction to the nurse, "Administer Antamin nasally."
The nurse acted promptly. Chen Chen watched the patient closely. About fifteen minutes after the administration, the patient's vital signs significantly improved. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed the efficacy of the Antamin. Perhaps humanity was granted a miracle, an unexpected chance at survival.
"Throughout the treatment process, only one Antamin pill is required?" Chen Chen continued his earlier interrupted question.
"Exactly, Professor Chen, you are very observant. This is the best protocol we have determined after many trials. The lower the dose before clinical trials conclude, the safer it is for the patient," Nathan said, rather smugly.
Chen Chen agreed. All toxins are dose-related. Curing Super Brainwave with just one pill was exhilarating news.
"I have a favor to ask. A friend of mine has been infected with Super Brainwave, and his condition is quite serious. Could you provide me with one Antamin pill?" Remembering Xu Zhe, his colleague and friend who was now critically ill in the ICU, Chen Chen felt a pang of emotion.
"Chen Chen, it seems you recognize the value of the Antamin. While this is not standard procedure, I have no reason to deny your request in the face of life's urgency," Ulysses said in a very deep voice after being silent for a while.
At that moment, Chen Chen's phone rang, interrupting their conversation. Hoping it might be Xia Nan, he hastily took out his phone but saw Angela's name, feeling a slight disappointment.
Just as he was about to decline the call, Ulysses signaled for him to answer. The distressed cry from Angela on the other end made Chen Chen's heart sink.
"What did you say? Professor Albert has been murdered!"