The amount of the test drug given by Constantine was small, and after preliminary tests confirmed, there was not much left.
Among the eight test cases, Philip's experimental team was surprised that the rate of malaria disappearance for the two patients taking artemisinin was two hours faster than the two control patients taking quinine. .
Seeing that the experimental drug is indeed effective for malaria, the Philip team originally planned to follow the planned steps to continue the next more detailed drug verification test.
Drug experimentation is a very rigorous and cautious process. It is impossible to rashly determine that an experimental drug is indeed a specific medicine for treating malaria just because one experiment is successful.
It's just that an accident happened at this time.
A young doctor named Teres in the experiment team served as one of Philip's assistants in the experiment. His sister Kayla was admitted to the Athens City Hospital after suffering from malaria.
Kayla, a 15-year-old girl, has severe malaria symptoms, sometimes fever, sweating profusely, and flushing complexion.
Sometimes it gets cold, and in April the weather is covered with three or four pairs of quilts, but it is still cold.
After taking the expensive German-made quinine, the symptoms are still not alleviated, but the price of quinine is high. This is a real imported drug with a high price, and a single dose costs hundreds of delamarks. (One pound is approximately equal to 25 delamark)
At the end of the 19th century, about 70% of the cinchona bark of quinine circulating in the market came from the Dutch-controlled Java Island, Peru and other countries in the Andes Mountains (the origin of the cinchona tree), relying on wild golden roosters. Nashu, occupies the remaining market.
Although the Dutch have a monopoly on cinchona bark, what is embarrassing is that its chemical technology is incapable of extracting quinine from cinchona bark.
Because of the technology of extracting quinine, it was monopolized by the Germans.
The Dutch took a long distance from the island of Java and spanned half a distance of the earth. The cinchona bark collected must be sent to a German chemical plant for processing and extraction of quinine.
This double monopoly keeps the price of quinine high.
In 1890, the chemical industry for extracting quinine developed into a huge industry in Germany with an annual output value of 200 million marks.
For example, German companies engaged in the chemical industry, such as Bayer and BASF, are all engaged in this industry.
Nourished by huge profits, by 1900, the Germans were lonely in chemical technology, leading the way, and no country could match it.
Among them, the Dutch cinchona bark contributed a lot.
In the ward, Terris saw her active and active sister, who was ravaged by malaria and had a haggard face. In just a few days, her face that was originally white and red had become thin and dark yellow, and her heart was greatly moved.
To make matters worse, the side effects of vomiting and diarrhea of my sister after taking quinine were very serious.
Under the dual torment of malaria and side effects, Kayla's body is getting weaker and weaker.
Even if the family gritted their teeth, they could still raise money to buy another dose of quinine, but Teres still felt that the possibility of a cure was not high.
Teris, who participated in the drug trial, immediately thought of the new anti-malaria drug being tested.
Although it has only undergone preliminary experiments, accidents may happen if I take it rashly.
But sister Kayla can't afford it anymore. She has developed malaria sequelae of anemia and splenomegaly.
This means that her life is in danger.
Teres found Philip privately and begged Philip in tears to let his sister Kayla take artemisinin, which was receiving the experimental drug.
His colleague Teris was in grief and infected Philip. Out of sympathy, he agreed to Teris' request when he saw that Keira's condition could not be delayed.
After Keira took the dose that Philip thought was appropriate, the symptoms of cold and fever quickly alleviated, and there was no recurrence the next day.
After taking it for three consecutive days, the condition of alternating cold and heat has disappeared, Kayla can sleep peacefully every night, and the malaria has obviously been cured.
After seeing the performance of artemisinin, Philip, who has been in the medical profession for many years, is keenly aware that a new specific medicine for malaria has appeared.
Philip came in a hurry, just to know the specifics of the drug.
Just look at the Peruvian government's strict prohibition of anyone selling cinchona tree seeds or saplings to foreigners. The Dutch have spent 30 years trying to plant them on the island of Java, and you know how lucrative this industry is.
"Your Excellency, when will this medicine be available on the market?" Philip asked eagerly.
He wisely did not ask about the source of the medicine.
Even if he asked, Constantine could not speak out.
"Circulation?" Constantine was taken aback by Philip's question.
To be honest, he has no plans to sell artemisinin in the near future.
As long as the news of Constantine mastering a new malaria drug spreads, people with deep backgrounds and well-informed people will soon follow.
Either intimidation or inducement, the identity of a Greek crown prince is simply not enough to be a reliance.
Given the current dilemma of Greece, they can always find reasons that Constantine could not refuse.
From the beginning, Constantine only intended to use artemisinin as a supply material for the Royal Guards who were about to head to the Congo River Basin to reduce the non-combat attrition of operations in Africa.
Malaria, an infectious disease that can be spread by mosquitoes, is like a duck in the water in the hot climate of southern Africa and is a great threat.
"Philip, for various reasons, this drug is unlikely to be launched in the near future," Constantine said.
The reason why Philip was anxious to ask clearly, it was not that he wanted to get a piece of the pie.
But as a doctor with a lofty sense of mission, I deeply hate malaria, a widespread infectious disease.
Quinine, a popular malaria treatment on the market, is expensive, and many shy patients cannot afford it.
If another specific malaria drug appears to compete with quinine, the cost of treatment for malaria patients will be greatly reduced.
Philip, who has worked in the hospital for many years, feels desolate when he thinks of those patients who can't afford to buy quinine and can only endure the torture of alternating cold and heat, and the tragic situation of waiting to die alive.
For the doctor who treats the disease and saves lives, facing this kind of human tragedy, he bears a strong condemnation in his heart.
There are often doctors who can't stand this heartbreaking suffering and secretly give quinine to impoverished patients.
Because the price of quinine is so high, patients cannot afford to pay for the medicine. Although occasionally some wealthy people or churches donate money for charity, it is not enough to cover the loss and can only be borne by the hospital in the end.
As the dean of the hospital, Philip has dealt with several such incidents and can only reluctantly fire these doctors or nurses.