Comment from Debbie D'Arcy

Excellent

She really does love and trust him doesn't she? You've created a very loving partnership here and it's given Brian the strength and confidence now to branch out. His decision is ambitious but you frame it all here in a compelling argument. On balance, I would agree with Julia's response, not least because I think Big Pharma has too much vested financial interest in addiction to be doing anything themselves (although they may well challenge anyone who does). Another faultless chapter in your very engaging book, Jim. Take care Debbie

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Yes, she does trust him, but that will surely be put to the test soon.

I think you may be right about Big Pharma. Some scientists are working on a non-opioid approach, but they may be independents like Brian, or perhaps Little Pharma. And you can believe they will probably fight it when (if) it comes to pass. That's been a cash cow for them for years.

Although I don't address that in this story (the fight with Big Pharma), I may decide to write a sequel that may go into that as part of the story.

Thanks for this thought-provoking review, Debbie!

Comment from Tom Horonzy

Excellent

Holey Moley, concert violinist can make really big bucks??? I never would have figured. I mean when I see a concert on teevee with a hundred musicians, all surely aren't paid premium alms, as revenue from such events would never cover the costs.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

No, they aren't, but the guest soloists are, depending on the orchestra of course. Those in smaller cities maybe not make so much, but the larger cities with good orchestras will pay big bucks for a good soloist.

Comment from Pam Lonsdale

Excellent

If the drug company he worked for will get the patent and most of the profits, why aren't they giving him research money? And a lab to work in, for that matter. I wondered how you would write this - most drug companies would squash anyone trying to replace their big money-makers!

Now I hope Brian doesn't burn down their house with his lab:-)

Good chapter, Jim.

Have a great weekend,
xo
Pam

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Pam. His company, Detry, is primarily into Alzheimer's research at this point, and isn't interested in pursuing Brian's area of interest right now. This is Brian's baby, and he wants to do it his way, at his speed, with his own patent, and to reap the rewards.

When the pharmaceutical world eventually finds out about Brian's drug, they may try to squash it. I may write a sequel in which this happens.

Comment from Wayne Fowler

Excellent

Nice writing.
...suffering with since 2008, when I was 16 years old. - suffering since I was sixteen would do.
No matter how 'fast tracked' he gets, it's tough to imagine any drug (in the U.S.) getting FDA approval in less than several years - and that's after it's created/invented.
Best wishes.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Good tip for shortening. I will use it. Thanks!

You're correct. It will probably take 10 years for the drug to meet all testing requirements before it comes to market, with 3 or more phases of human trials.

But at least Brian will be able to take it himself during this time. The "fast tracking" was more in terms of Brian's own cure for himself rather than for the public. He would never get the opportunity to try it on himself if Detry were to develop the drug. Their policies would prohibit that.

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

While I'm touched by Julia's confidence in Brian and that she places more value in their relationship and his altruistic goals than money, I am wincing thinking about the impending disaster when he becomes hooked on his own product. He is right to quit because in every field, the company we work for, even universities, would own the patent to our creations.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Your remarks make me very glad I began the story with the prologue. In 4 more chapters, we will be back to the events of the prologue when we will have the full context.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

There are advancements in the drug world taking place all the time as we experiment with drugs to improve life and take people's pain away. Unfortunately there are always side effects that sometimes take years to reveal themselves. We humans were not meant to take drugs of any kind, but they are of course necessary to elongate life. I hope Brian is successful in his endeavour, another fine chapter Jim, love Dolly x

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 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Dolly.

You're right. We have been able to extend life well beyond what it was designed to be. That's why we have such problems with stiff, achy joints and over-taxed organs, cancers, and the like. We weren't supposed to live this long. Having that big brain of ours has enabled man to extend his life with all his advances in medicine, but it usually comes with a price--the side effects we must learn to put up with or deal with.

reply by Dolly'sPoems on 13-Sep-2024

Very true x

Comment from Wendy G

Exceptional

A wonderful chapter - he's on the brink of a world-changing discovery, if it come off. However, the pharmaceutical companies won't be please, and will doubtless try to ensure he doesn't succeed. Would they go so far as to put his life in danger? Or simply try to buy him out with an offer he can't refuse. Lots of good questions. Just as well Julia is so supportive. One wonders if others have had brilliant ideas which went nowhere because of an unsupportive life partner.
Wendy

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks so much, Wendy, for this thought-filled review. That's something I don't really get into in this story--the reaction of the drug companies to suppress this drug, but it will likely come because they've been riding the opioid train and reaping huge profits for a long time. Perhaps in a sequel?

Thanks very much for those 6 stars too.

Comment from lancellot

Excellent

Hmm, a steppingstone chapter as Brian moves on to what I take as the main plot of the story, and things move its way back to what, how we started in the beginning. Naturally, they had nice, supportive and loving conversation. That's happens when a man tells his wife he is quitting his career, and she will now be supporting them as he works in the basement.



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 Comment Written 12-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

You are exactly right with your sardonic view of this situation. It would be a rare individual who would be willing to support her husband in quitting his job to pursue his own passion and be willing to shell out the money to pay for his lab equipment and be the sole support until his risky idea ever achieves success. No argument there.

Let me propose a similar scenario: A landscape painter goes out on a lovely fall day to paint a picture of a beautiful stand of trees with fall colors in full display. In reality, one of the trees that will be in the picture has a dead branch on it, and there are some soda cans someone has littered the ground with in the scene. This may be the more normal condition. But this particular painter chooses to paint an idealized view of the scene without the dead branch and the soda cans.

Less realistic? Perhaps, but that's the image he wants to project. It's life as he wishes it were, not necessarily how it is.

A different painter may choose to focus on the reality of the situation and concentrate on the litter, making a statement about how thoughtless man can ruin a beautiful scene by littering.

It just depends on the artist's sense of life as to which interpretation he wants to project. My point is that an artist or a novelist has the option of telling the story he wants to be told and doesn't have to limit himself to what is most common or expected.

On a side note, the fact that Julia earns a half a million dollars a year as a soloist means they can afford the risk.

reply by lancellot on 13-Sep-2024

True, but how many men would even ask a woman to support him? I mean consider the type of man, you've written Brian as so far. And to develop a never before invented drug, (given all the billion dollar Pharma companies).

As always, I'm not telling you what to do. It's your story. I'm just giving you my honest review. If you're happy with what you have, you should always keep going. You are the artist, and it's your art.

reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

I guess I picture the wives who work to support the family while the husband goes to medical school or law school.

Big pharma is definitely working on this, but someone has to be first to find the solution. Brian does have the backing of a top bio-geneticist as well, who he's been brainstorming with.

Whether or not it could really happen this way, who knows? (Lance says, "I know. It couldn't.) I do at least want to keep it somewhat realistic with the science involved, which I verified is plausible. This is my fantasy in novel form.