Dark Star Rising Second Edition (Pebbles in The Sky) by Jeffery Bagley Page B
Authors: Jeffery Bagley
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said. “We do have rights to use the process, but since it was a grant in conjunction with the National Institute of Health, we do not own it. After the vaccine process has been proven in clinical trials, we can use the process to produce and sell the vaccines as well as any other pharmaceutical company.”
“Even so,” said Mr. Suit, “the profit potential is very good.”
Larry Niles leaned forward onto his elbows. “Yes, we could make a good profit initially, but then that will end. Just think, using this process we can vaccinate every man, woman and child against every virus known to us that causes disease. No more Influenza, HIV, Ebola, Small Pox, and all the others. Although they have not attempted it, we think that the process can also be applied to replicating the DNA in Plasmids or Bacteria according to Dr. Souse. Just think, we could develop a vaccine for every known organism that is harmful to humans, or our livestock or pets. At that point, there would no longer be a need for drugs for cold symptoms, or skin creams for fungal infections, or antibiotics for ear infections. We could be immune to all of the diseases.”
“Amazing,” said Mr. Suit. “Somehow , a world with no disease, no suffering, and no pharmaceutical companies is not going to appeal to a lot of our stockholders. Ok, so we know that this works in monkeys, but what about humans?”
Alec then described the rather un-orthodox human trial that Brett Driskall had performed on himself.
“Hmm,” said Mr. Suit, “what is the possibility that this breakthrough can be covered up or that we can purchase the rights to it and we can just put it on the shelf for a while? Or maybe we could give the doctors Driskall a brand new lab to research something else in return for their silence?”
John Knowles joined the conversation at that point. “Not only would that be totally unethical, but they would never agree to it. In addition, Dr. Berkshire will already have shared this information with others at the National Institute of Public Health. The cat is out of the bag , as the expression goes. I am sure he is already arranging for fast track human trials of the vaccines as we speak. We still have two weeks before the research is published, so I suggest we get our ducks in a row and see what we can do to get moving on this before our competitors can. We need to make what profit we can now and then I guess we will all be looking for a new job.”
“I came here under the assumption that you had made a breakthrough that could make profits for this corporation. I did not know that you were going to tell me the breakthrough is so amazing that all my stock is going to become next to worthless. You have definitely ruined my day,” said Mr. Suit. He stood up to leave. “Doctor Knowles, please inform me of any changes in the status of the trials or any new information that comes to light regarding this process. Also, keep your ears open as to what our competitors are going to do with this information. Larry, I think you need to call an unscheduled meeting of the board for later this week. In the meantime, I have some people to talk too.” He and Larry Niles got up and walked out of the meeting room together.
“That was fun,” said Alec. “Who was the guy in the fancy suit?”
John Niles just looked over at him. “You know, you really need to get out of the lab a little more often Alec. That was Benjamin Greco, probably the seventh or eighth richest man in the world and the majority stock holder in our company.”
Alec let out a low whistle…”I loved his suit.”
…
In Bethesda, Maryland, a similar discussion was being held in an office at the Headquarters of the National Institute of Health. Harold Berkshire had just finished discussing the miraculous breakthrough that Doctors Brett and Jessica Driskall had achieved to his boss, Dr. Simi Basjani.
“Who says the government does nothing but
“Even so,” said Mr. Suit, “the profit potential is very good.”
Larry Niles leaned forward onto his elbows. “Yes, we could make a good profit initially, but then that will end. Just think, using this process we can vaccinate every man, woman and child against every virus known to us that causes disease. No more Influenza, HIV, Ebola, Small Pox, and all the others. Although they have not attempted it, we think that the process can also be applied to replicating the DNA in Plasmids or Bacteria according to Dr. Souse. Just think, we could develop a vaccine for every known organism that is harmful to humans, or our livestock or pets. At that point, there would no longer be a need for drugs for cold symptoms, or skin creams for fungal infections, or antibiotics for ear infections. We could be immune to all of the diseases.”
“Amazing,” said Mr. Suit. “Somehow , a world with no disease, no suffering, and no pharmaceutical companies is not going to appeal to a lot of our stockholders. Ok, so we know that this works in monkeys, but what about humans?”
Alec then described the rather un-orthodox human trial that Brett Driskall had performed on himself.
“Hmm,” said Mr. Suit, “what is the possibility that this breakthrough can be covered up or that we can purchase the rights to it and we can just put it on the shelf for a while? Or maybe we could give the doctors Driskall a brand new lab to research something else in return for their silence?”
John Knowles joined the conversation at that point. “Not only would that be totally unethical, but they would never agree to it. In addition, Dr. Berkshire will already have shared this information with others at the National Institute of Public Health. The cat is out of the bag , as the expression goes. I am sure he is already arranging for fast track human trials of the vaccines as we speak. We still have two weeks before the research is published, so I suggest we get our ducks in a row and see what we can do to get moving on this before our competitors can. We need to make what profit we can now and then I guess we will all be looking for a new job.”
“I came here under the assumption that you had made a breakthrough that could make profits for this corporation. I did not know that you were going to tell me the breakthrough is so amazing that all my stock is going to become next to worthless. You have definitely ruined my day,” said Mr. Suit. He stood up to leave. “Doctor Knowles, please inform me of any changes in the status of the trials or any new information that comes to light regarding this process. Also, keep your ears open as to what our competitors are going to do with this information. Larry, I think you need to call an unscheduled meeting of the board for later this week. In the meantime, I have some people to talk too.” He and Larry Niles got up and walked out of the meeting room together.
“That was fun,” said Alec. “Who was the guy in the fancy suit?”
John Niles just looked over at him. “You know, you really need to get out of the lab a little more often Alec. That was Benjamin Greco, probably the seventh or eighth richest man in the world and the majority stock holder in our company.”
Alec let out a low whistle…”I loved his suit.”
…
In Bethesda, Maryland, a similar discussion was being held in an office at the Headquarters of the National Institute of Health. Harold Berkshire had just finished discussing the miraculous breakthrough that Doctors Brett and Jessica Driskall had achieved to his boss, Dr. Simi Basjani.
“Who says the government does nothing but
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