Chapter 159: Shocking Reveal
"Of course, Mrs. Estolas. Juliet, we will start the presentation where I will show you the current market of the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries, and then we will discuss our strategic approach and how we plan to position ourselves within these markets," Michael explained, setting the tone for the meeting.
He waited as the projector projected the specific slide. The moment he saw it flashed on the white screen, he began.
"The pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors are experiencing significant growth. This is driven by advances in technology, an aging population, and increasing healthcare expenditures globally."
Juliett clicked on the next slide, showing a graph of market trends.
"As you can see, there\'s a steady upward trend," Michael pointed at the graph. "Because we know that as we age, complications arise, and the demand for medical innovations and treatments increases. This presents a substantial market opportunity for us."
He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "However, entering these markets is not without its challenges. We\'re up against established players and a complex regulatory environment."
Juliet, taking over, explained, "Our strategy focuses on differentiation through innovation. We aim to develop unique medical technologies and pharmaceutical products that address unmet needs in the market. This will not only provide value to patients but also position us strongly against competitors."
"Okay…and where is that technology and pharmaceutical products?" Bridget asked, looking over as if emphasizing that she was not seeing one.
"Well…" Juliet cleared his throat. "This is the part where Mr. Reyes said that he\'ll reveal it himself."
All eyes turned to Michael.
"Of course, you are all wondering what our products will be, and luckily, I have prepared my own set of presentation materials for this," Michael said, fetching a remote to switch the display.
He clicked through to a slide showing a list of incurable diseases from the World Health Organization (WHO) and their current treatment gaps.
"Bridget, could you please read this slide for me?" Michael requested, pointing to the displayed list.
Bridget nodded, standing to get a better view. "This slide shows a list of diseases that are currently considered incurable by WHO, including Alzheimer\'s, Parkinson\'s, and certain forms of cancer. It highlights the lack of effective treatments for these conditions and the substantial market need for new medical solutions."
Michael took over, "Exactly. And that\'s where Reyes Pharmaceuticals and Reyes MedTech Solutions come in. We are focusing on these diseases."
"How?" Antoinette inquired, shrugging her shoulders before Michael could continue.
He advanced the presentation to the next slide, revealing an image of a transparent-looking pill.
"This," Michael began, pointing at the image, "is a prototype of a pill I am developing to treat Alzheimer\'s disease."
The room fell silent as everyone\'s attention fixed on the slide.
"To understand the significance of this," Michael continued, "let\'s talk about Alzheimer\'s. It\'s a progressive neurological disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Essentially, it\'s because of abnormal deposits of proteins in the brain that disrupt the function of brain cells."
He paused, ensuring the explanation was digestible. "These protein deposits, known as amyloid plaques and tau tangles, lead to a decline in brain functions. What makes Alzheimer\'s particularly challenging is that there\'s no cure yet. Current treatments only help manage symptoms but don\'t stop the disease from progressing."
"Why is there no cure?" Bridget asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The complexity of the brain and the disease itself," Michael answered. "The exact cause of Alzheimer\'s is still not fully understood. It involves a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Plus, the disease often goes undetected until it\'s quite advanced, making it harder to treat effectively."
"Okay, if it\'s so hard to cure, and scientists all around the world are trying to concoct a cure for it, how could you develop it?" Antoinette asked, her tone filled with doubts.
"Because I\'m different. Come on, Mrs. Estolas, you have been working for me since the establishment of the SolaraTech Corporation, You should know that the technology I make is advanced and futuristic. This is no different."
"But how?" Antoinette exclaimed. "I don\'t think you have a background in medical science or pharmacology."
"You should also know that I have been an enigmatic person," Michael said.
"Explain your product," Bridget chimed.
"Okay…so this pill," Michael resumed, "is not just any ordinary medication. It\'s engineered using a nanotechnology-based delivery system. This system allows the precise targeting of neural pathways affected by Alzheimer\'s disease."
He clicked on a detailed slide illustrating the mechanism. "The pill releases nanoparticles designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, a challenge for traditional treatments. Once inside the brain, these particles selectively bind to the amyloid plaques and tau tangles, facilitating their breakdown and removal by the body\'s immune system."
Michael noticed the intrigued looks and continued, "This approach not only halts the progression of Alzheimer\'s but potentially reverses the damage caused by the disease. It\'s like sending in a highly specialized cleanup crew to restore brain function."
He then shifted to the business side. "From an investment perspective, this represents a groundbreaking advancement in medical science. Alzheimer\'s affects millions worldwide, and the market for an effective cure is vast and untapped. We\'re not just selling a pill; we\'re providing a solution to one of the most pressing medical challenges of our age."
Antoinette, now more interested, leaned forward. "So, you\'re combining high-tech engineering with medical science. But what about clinical trials, and FDA approvals? Like how can you prove that this pill of yours actually works?"
"That\'s the hardest part, we may have to conduct extensive research and rigorous clinical trials to validate the efficacy and safety of our pill," Michael acknowledged.
"And where will you find participants for it? I believe there is a process for it right?" Antoinette continued.
"Yes, there is a defined process," Michael confirmed. "We\'ll start with preclinical trials on cellular models and then progress to animal testing to evaluate the drug\'s safety profile and pharmacological effects. Once we have positive results from these stages, we\'ll apply for approval to conduct human clinical trials."
He explained further, "For human trials, we\'ll collaborate with medical research centers and hospitals to recruit participants. These will be people diagnosed with early to mid-stage Alzheimer\'s, ensuring a controlled and ethical research environment."
Michael continued to detail the phased approach they planned to take, from initial safety studies in a small group of volunteers to larger efficacy trials.
"Our goal is to rigorously test and validate the pill\'s effectiveness in improving cognitive function and slowing or reversing Alzheimer\'s progression."
"I haven\'t understood a thing…but what\'s the other one that you have in medical technology?"
"For that, I\'m going to have you all take a deep breath because what I\'m about to reveal will surely shock you," Michael paused for dramatic effect. "For our medical technology company, let\'s just say I have built a pod designed to cure cancer."