Overview

A world-class scientist shares an expert insider view of how real medical science happens, and how teams of brilliant people tackled some of the worst diseases in the world. We often hear about the dark side of the pharmaceutical industry – from extortionist pricing to the opioid epidemic. But there’s another story to be told. In Breakthrough, Dr William Pao cuts to the innovative heart of the industry and celebrates the genius and tireless work of scientists fighting for better treatments and medical care. Through the story of eight revolutionary drugs, William Pao provides a compelling insider account of the wonders of medical science and life-changing biotechnology. Behind each of these medicines, whether revolutionary drug treatments for cancer, or something as commonplace as paracetamol, there stands a cast of characters and a wealth of stories as fascinating as they are inspiring. The trajectory from drug discovery to a pill ending up on the shelf at the local chemist is rarely a straight line. Eureka moments are few are far between. It demands leaps of imagination and lateral thinking, the accumulation of the knowledge and expertise of many, and – nearly always – a hefty dollop of luck. Above all, it involves innovation. Pao, so often in the hot seat throughout his storied career, documents these journeys, and grants us a privileged look at the stories behind the medicines that improve – and very often save – our lives.

Full Product Details

9780861547340

Table of Contents

Reviews

‘This book is a must read for anyone interested in learning how new therapeutics are created and should also appeal to the curious reader fascinated by innovation, popular science, biology and medicine.’ —Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner The Emperor of All Maladies

‘This book is a must read for anyone interested in learning how new therapeutics are created and should also appeal to the curious reader fascinated by innovation, popular science, biology and medicine.’ —Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of the Pulitzer Prize winner The Emperor of All Maladies 'An essential read for anyone interested in how basic science is translated for human benefit. Breakthrough: The Quest for Life-Changing Medicines delves into the fascinating and often surprising journey of drug discovery, unraveling the fascinating biology and convoluted research paths that lead to the development of new game-changing therapies. Authored by an acclaimed doctor, cancer scientist and drug developer; this book tells the captivating stories that bring the world of biomedical research and drug discovery to life.' —Dr Norman E. Sharpless, Former Director of the National Cancer Institute

Author Information

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. Before joining industry, William was Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, where he held the Cornelius Abernathy Craig Chair in Medical and Surgical Oncology.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available