Chapter 87 The Arrogant British
Shennong Biopharmaceutical Company was founded in 1926 and has a history of 8 years. It has many best-selling drugs and medical devices, such as sulfonamides, vitamin C, X-ray detectors, ventilators, etc. It is now the world's largest pharmaceutical and medical device company.

As for Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, they are still little brothers. Shennong Biopharmaceutical Company has also made considerable achievements in the fields of medical devices and personal hygiene. It competes with them in all aspects. Once they launch penicillin and Viagra, they will have to be inferior to them for a long time.

Shennong Biopharmaceutical Company takes "caring for life and protecting health" as its corporate philosophy and provides protection for the health of people around the world.

Shennong Biopharmaceutical Company invests huge amounts of money every year, always insists on original research and development, and is at the forefront of biopharmaceuticals and medical devices.

Although there are still imitations and plagiarisms nowadays, they are all from people who have purchased (seized) patents or whose patents have expired, and they are selectively ignored.

On June 1934, 6, Shennong Bio-pharmaceutical Company released the company's latest independently developed new drug - penicillin.

Why is penicillin more famous than sulfonamide in history?
The biggest problem with sulfonamides is that they have low solubility in urine, so they can easily cause kidney stones, bladder stones, ureteral stones and other problems, leading to a series of problems such as hematuria, pain, urinary tract obstruction and even more serious acute renal failure.

Moreover, even the doctors at that time might have been troubled by how to quantitatively and accurately take sulfa drugs. Taking too little would not be conducive to treatment, while taking too much would cause stones and poisoning. It is also a cumulative poisoning, and generally an overdose would occur if taken for a week in a row.

In addition, sulfa drugs also had an extremely feared allergic reaction at the time, which could cause diarrhea, exfoliative dermatitis, skin erythema, photosensitivity, joint pain, fever, renal failure, mental disorder, encephalopathy, etc., and there were many people who were allergic to them. For example, the unlucky person in the ward of Veterinary Surgeon Hao, who was wrapped in gauze and hung at the beginning of "My Captain, My Regiment", was a sulfa drug allergic person.

Penicillin is an antibiotic. In this era, it was mainly used to treat pneumonia patients and soldiers injured on the battlefield. After being shot or injured by a shell, they would lose blood. The symptoms of blood loss are lethargy, weakness, decreased immunity and body function. Then, because bullets and shell fragments carry various bacteria (tetanus) and are open wounds, it is easy to cause wound infection, fever, pneumonia, etc.
Penicillin has a good therapeutic effect on all of these. The mortality rate of pneumonia in this era is very high. Just look at the new coronavirus. Children are especially susceptible to pneumonia.

In addition, penicillin can also treat syphilis, which is a blessing for the troops. Western armies have always been affected by sexually transmitted diseases, and their combat effectiveness has been severely damaged. Penicillin can allow an unlucky soldier to return to the battlefield in just a few days.

"Our company spent a total of 1000 million US dollars and five years to develop this miracle drug - penicillin. It is mainly used to treat pneumonia, wound infection, syphilis and other diseases. If you are accidentally shot, you only need to remove the bullet and inject a few shots, and the wound will not be inflamed or fever. If it is syphilis, a few injections will heal it in 5 to 3 days."

Facing the reporters from major newspapers in the audience, Sharrock introduced.

"Mr. Sharrock, can penicillin really treat so many diseases?" The New York Times reporter raised his hand and asked.

"Of course, our company has conducted clinical trials, so there is no problem at all." Sharlock replied confidently.

"Mr. Sharlock, can syphilis really be cured?" asked another male reporter.

"Yes, sir, you can buy one box and try it at home. Remember to report the results to our company later." Sharlock said with a smile, and there was laughter from the audience.

The male reporter's face suddenly turned red, but fortunately he had a thick beard on his face, so it was difficult to see.

"You can ask one last question and today's press conference is over," Sharlock continued.

Hearing this, half of the reporters in the audience raised their hands, and Sharrock pointed to one of the reporters who was wearing a Paramount ID card.

Paramount Broadcasting Company is also a company owned by the boss, so of course it has to take care of its own people.

And he also needs the broadcasting company to help him do more positive coverage.

After more than a year of development, Paramount Broadcasting Company has covered more than a dozen states, and the programs it broadcasts are very popular among the American people.

Ever since American Greenleaf Whittier Pickard built the crystal radio in 1900, it has been a simple radio receiver.

Later, in 1902, American Barnett Staplefield, the "Father of Radio", completed a radio broadcasting experiment using a crystal radio, and radio in the United States developed rapidly.

"Mr. Sharrock, when will penicillin be available for sale, where can it be bought, and how much does it cost?" asked a reporter from Paramount Broadcasting Corporation.

"It is expected to go on sale in 10 days. Due to the small quantity, it will not be sold wholesale like other drugs. It can only be purchased at the Central Avenue franchise store in downtown Los Angeles. Each person will be limited to five units, and the price is $500 per unit. Shennong Biopharmaceuticals has been committed to solving untreatable diseases and bringing good news to patients with various diseases. However, due to the high R&D costs, high production costs, and the current inability to mass produce, the price is relatively high."

After Sharlock finished speaking, there was an uproar in the audience. You know, their current annual income is not that much. Many reporters raised their hands and wanted to question Sharlock, but at this time Sharlock had already left the venue under the protection of security personnel.

These reporters immediately reported the news of today's penicillin drug launch conference to the newspaper. The next day, overwhelming news reports came in, both positive and negative.

"Shennong Biopharmaceuticals launched a high-priced drug - Penicillin. Is it saving lives, or sucking blood from lives?"

"Penicillin-Good news for syphilis patients."

"Penicillin, the magic medicine that is the nemesis of pneumonia and infection, can save tens of millions of lives every year."

"Behind the sky-high price of penicillin: the ugly face of capitalists"

Monchi Manor, in the study.

Zhang Feng flipped through the newspaper in his hand, not taking the negative information on it seriously. No matter in which era, there are always high-priced drugs. There are also many drugs that cost millions of dollars per injection in later generations. The more expensive it is at the beginning, the easier it is to gain fame. The rich and powerful will definitely flock to it. Only such an expensive price is worthy of their status. The middle class can also afford it with a little effort, and it may even become a symbol of their pursuit of value recognition and identity.

When the price drops in the future, ordinary people will rush to use it. After all, they will believe in it even if it has no effect because it is a medicine that only the top class can afford.

As long as I can make money, it doesn’t matter if I bear some bad reputation. At most, I can spend a little money to wash it off easily later.

You have to know that the philosophy of the copy company is still "user-oriented, technology for good", but no one dares to object. A lot of people use its products and contribute to the company's performance.

Aden, Yemen.

White brought several Dragon Warrior commandos and intelligence personnel from the Public Opinion Survey Office to the British Empire's base in Yemen. After stating that he was a representative of the China-America Company, he was easily received by the Governor of Yemen.

Ever since the transport ship of the Meihua Company was seized by the British Navy half a month ago, White has been communicating with Zhang Jiacheng to discuss how to resolve the matter.

Finally, White suggested negotiating with the British first to see their attitude before deciding on the next move. Lei Wanting also agreed, which led to this trip.

When the group arrived at the door of the Governor's Mansion, the guard asked that only one person be allowed in. White had a bad feeling and was afraid that the trip would not go smoothly.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Governor. I am a representative of the Meihua Company. I am here to protest the British Navy's unjustified seizure of our company's ship personnel and cargo."

White saluted the Governor and took the initiative.

The Governor of Aden looked to be in his 50s, with grey hair and beard.

"Mr. White, Yemen is a protectorate of the British Empire. Your Meihua Company sent troops in without authorization, which is a provocation to the British Empire. Our navy's seizure of several ships is just normal law enforcement. I warn you now to withdraw your troops from Yemen as soon as possible, otherwise you will bear the consequences."

Governor Aden said in a calm tone.

"Your Excellency, Governor, the Meihua Company is just a trading company. It has no army at all. They are mercenaries hired by the King of Yemen and have nothing to do with the Meihua Company. We just have business dealings with them. The fleet materials you seized are the property of our Meihua Company, so please return them as soon as possible."

White continued in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "As for what you just said that Yemen is a protectorate of the British Empire, that is even more nonsense. As far as I know, Britain currently only occupies the southern part of Yemen centered on Aden, and has not yet been recognized by the Kingdom of Yemen. To be precise, Britain is just an invader and has no right to seize the ships of the Meihua Company."

"The British Empire has ruled Yemen for more than 100 years. Does it need anyone's recognition? No matter what the relationship between your two companies is, you are not allowed to stay here. You have half a month to get out of Yemen with your company's people. Otherwise, when the British Royal Navy blockades the Red Sea, you will not be able to leave even if you want to."

Governor Aden looked at White with contempt and said arrogantly: "Humph! Send him away."

Seeing this, White knew that the talks could not continue. Without a fight, the British would not take the Meihua Company seriously.

White felt a headache when he thought of the Royal Navy's blockade of the Red Sea. Without the military supplies from Zhangjiacheng, how could he fight future wars? Especially the tanks and planes lacked ammunition and replacement parts, so they could only be used as toys.

Thamud, Yemen.

More than a dozen Yemenis with their heads wrapped in white cloth were struggling to walk in the hot desert. There were several camels loaded with goods in their team.

A day later they entered the city of Thamud, sold some of their goods, and after resting for a day, they set out again.

Five kilometers outside the city, several people were squatting on the ground, drawing something with tree branches.

"Wait, we will split into three teams. One team will go to Mannar, one team will go to Hauf, and the last team will be led by me to Oman." said a person who should be the leader of their team.

"Yes!" Several others responded.

This group of people are actually peripheral intelligence personnel recruited by the Public Opinion Research Office in Yemen, and even the King of Yemen is unaware of it.

Even if the polling office is a peripheral intelligence agent, the treatment it receives is enough to make an ordinary Yemeni betray his country.

Their mission this time is to go to an area far away from the Gulf of Aden and collect information on the local military defense to facilitate the Meihua Company to smuggle supplies into Yemen.

It is impossible to let the Yulin mercenaries fight alone, and if they do not have the advantage in weapons and equipment, they may not be able to defeat Saudi Arabia.

This team also set out at the same time as White's mission to Aden. They had already made plans for both scenarios and had no hope against the British.

(End of this chapter)