Chapter 12: Patent Agent

Bruce made a slight gesture with his hand, prompting Marcus, who was seated at a nearby table, to stand. He took a stack of documents from his bag and placed them in front of Fowler.

"Take your time, Mr. Marcos. Have a look at this material first."

Fowler, looking slightly puzzled, opened the folder in front of him. He quickly skimmed through it, his face occasionally showing surprise and contemplation. It was a good fifteen minutes before he finally looked up.

"If I'm not mistaken, this is a record of the development and preliminary testing of a new drug. This active substance, called P-Erectile Dysfunction 7 Enhancer, targets patients with erectile dysfunction, and its effects seem to significantly surpass the mainstream drugs available?" Fowler voiced all of this almost in one breath. As an experienced lawyer and patent agent, his keen intuition in this domain was unquestionable, and he recognized the value of this new drug instantly.

For almost two decades now, Viagra has been one of the most renowned drugs globally. Its origin and impacts are well-known. Often referred to as the "Father of Viagra," General Discussion once admitted that their initial research aimed at cardiovascular diseases. They first discovered that the use of nitroglycerin and some related heart medications led to the formation of carbon monoxide, which expanded blood vessels in the body. This established the medical theory that nitric oxide was the molecule responsible for transmitting information within the cardiovascular system.

Later on, it was found that Viagra, developed based on this theory, had a more pronounced vasodilation effect on male reproductive organs. Its efficacy in treating erectile dysfunction was striking. The discovery and success of Viagra as an anti-ED medication were serendipitous.

In practice, not every patient is suited for Viagra, especially those with heart conditions. Not to mention its array of other unignorable side effects. In terms of efficacy, Viagra leans more towards prolonging erections rather than inducing them.

Despite its various shortcomings, Viagra's commercial success is undeniable. Pfizer Pharmaceuticals became the top-ranked pharmaceutical company in the U.S. and the world largely because of it.

The popular search engine Google lists over 17 million web pages containing the term "Viagra." In contrast, there are only 3.3 million pages with "aspirin." Rough estimates suggest that every second, four Viagra pills are consumed globally. Pfizer claims they sell nearly ten pills every second, totaling over 300 million a year. Truly, it's the king of pills.

The emergence of a new drug with better efficacy and fewer side effects would undoubtedly stimulate the market. The potential profits from this are staggering.

"This document is missing many crucial data points. I can't make an accurate judgment based solely on this. I need more information, Mr. Lee."

Despite the excitement in his heart, Fowler's cautious approach and professional integrity made him even more meticulous. The data he held was evidently preliminary. "Also, I'd like to know to whom the patent rights of this new drug belong?"

"Just the other day, on behalf of both myself and Dr. Samson Bell, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from New York University, I formally submitted a patent application to the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) for the pde7 enhancer, also known as "Vilda." The FDA is also on it," Bruce said, seemingly anticipating Fowler's question. "We intend to appoint you as the exclusive patent agent for Dr. Bell and myself to handle all matters related to the new drug. I assure you, once the contract is signed, you'll have access to all the drug's data."

In the United States, the approval and release of drugs are controlled by two independent departments: the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The USPTO is responsible for granting qualified new drugs a certain patent term. During this period, corresponding generic drugs cannot be freely marketed and sold.

The core function of the FDA is to review the safety, efficacy, and quality control of drugs applying for market registration, preventing the unsafe, ineffective, or fraudulent release of drugs.

The intricate processes and lengthy procedures for a new drug to go from application to market can be dizzying. This has led to the birth of patent agents. Without the intervention of these professionals, perhaps the drug "Vilda" wouldn't have appeared in the market for years.

Delegate the right tasks to the right people—a necessary skill for those in power. Naturally, Bruce wouldn't bother with it himself; that's why he approached Fowler.

"You're saying the patent for this new drug belongs entirely to the two of you?" Fowler asked in disbelief. Typically, such new drugs are developed by large companies or major labs over several years. It's rare for a patent to belong to individuals, especially for a drug as valuable as "Vilda."

"Yes, Mr. Marcos, you heard right," Bruce responded, unsurprised by his reaction. "It was developed based on an ancient formula I obtained from China. It belongs entirely to Dr. Bell and me. But publicly, it will be announced under the name of New York University Ochsner Laboratory."

"Please, call me Fowler. Bruce, can I call you that?" After getting Bruce's nod, an excited Fowler continued, "Trust me, you won't regret this decision." While it may seem a bit unscrupulous, he thought about the immense benefits landing this case would bring—not to mention the significant boost to his reputation.

In the legal world, reputation equates to status and benefits. Maybe this would propel him closer to the coveted title of named partner, cementing his legacy on the firm's walls. This opportunity was crucial. "Bruce, what stage is the drug development at?"

"We're applying for large-scale clinical trials. We're very confident about the drug's efficacy. So, the next steps are up to you," Bruce stated with confidence.

"Alright, leave the patent issues to me," Fowler paused before continuing. "But I'd like to know, how do you and Dr. Bell intend to handle the drug's patent rights?" This was his primary concern. Maximizing the drug's value would only happen once it entered the market, and neither individuals nor NYU are adept at this.

"If the price is right, we might consider selling," Bruce confirmed.

"Bruce, would you trust us with the subsequent negotiations and contacts? I promise, Pearson Hardman Law Firm is the best choice. We'll surprise both you and Dr. Bell," Fowler said, betraying a hint of his eagerness despite his otherwise composed demeanor.

"No, Fowler. It's our first collaboration. I hope we can leave a good impression on each other," Bruce shook his head, tapping his fingers on the table, clearly unimpressed. "You should tell me what you can do, not just try to win trust with empty promises, right?"

After a moment of reflection, Fowler exhaled. "Alright, I'll strive to get the patent approved within a year. As for the specific sale price, I need more information to estimate, but I guarantee you won't lose any potential profits, not even a penny."

"If approved within six months, you get a 5% fee. If within three months, 10%," Bruce countered, still not satisfied, setting his own terms.

"What?!" Fowler was close to swearing. Did Bruce think this was a simple task? Approval for new drugs, whether it's patents or market releases, typically takes years. The timeline Bruce proposed was incredibly challenging.

However, Fowler quickly grasped the conditions Bruce set forth. If "Vilda" truly had the efficacy as described in the documents, its patent value would be worth billions of dollars, perhaps even beyond imagination. This means every percentage point represents millions, if not more. This was a deal worth pursuing!

"Let me see what I can do for you, Bruce." Fowler, setting aside the documents in hand, stood up and stated with gravity, "Stay in touch. I want to be updated immediately about the results of the large-scale clinical trials." Before then, he had much groundwork to cover.

Watching Fowler leave with fiery determination, Bruce cracked a slight smile. For him, securing the initial funding was paramount. As for the drug's patent? It wasn't of particular importance to him; Lord Mephisto's mind was teeming with valuable ideas.