Breakthrough: The Quest for Life-Changing Medicines - Hardcover

by William Pao (Author)

Meet the doctors, scientists, patients and campaigners tackling the world's worst diseases

We often hear about the dark side of the pharmaceutical industry - from extortionate pricing to the opioid epidemic. But there's another story to be told.

Through the story of eight revolutionary treatments, Dr William Pao cuts to the innovative heart of medical science and celebrates the tireless work of those fighting for better care. Behind each of these medicines - whether a potentially life-saving new treatment for cancer, or something as commonplace as paracetamol - there stands a cast of characters and a wealth of stories.

The trajectory from the laboratory to the local chemist is rarely a straight line. Eureka moments are few are far between. Drug hunting demands leaps of imagination and lateral thinking, the accumulation of the knowledge and expertise of many, and - nearly always - a hefty dollop of luck.

Breakthrough documents these journeys and grants a privileged look at the stories behind the medicines that improve - and very often save - our lives.

Author Biography

William Pao is a physician-scientist whose career has spanned academia and industry. He was previously Chief Development Officer for Pfizer, and prior to that, Head of the Roche Pharma Research & Early Development unit, where he oversaw the discovery and early development of a portfolio of new molecular entities to treat a range of diseases, from cancer to rare blood disorders.