A Ray of Hope
A Ray of Hope
News that a dementia treatment had been developed popped up everywhere like mushrooms after rain.
However, the internet's reaction was lukewarm.
[Are they saying that just to pump up the stock price again?]
[They can't even cure baldness, how are they going to cure dementia? lol]
[Probably just worked on mice.]
[Korea <<<<< Bio, gotta filter that out.]
[I wouldn't believe it even if a conglomerate made it, but they're saying a small-to-medium enterprise made it, guys.]
[Confirmed scam, gg.]
However, other reactions naturally emerged as well. Because humans aren't a species connected by the Khala that only speaks with one opinion.
Every person had their own world.
[But is there a need to say it like that? I searched a bit and it's a company that isn't even listed on the stock market. There's no reason for them to lie.]
[Seeing as there are so many news articles popping up, it doesn't seem like a lie, right? I mean, a complete cure might be impossible, but it seems like they developed something that slows down the progression?]
People were sharing their opinions while looking through the news articles. However, there was one single common opinion.
That dementia is impossible to cure.
But the story changed.
Reviews from people who actually participated in the clinical trials were posted. Jaeseong Bio didn't even make them sign non-disclosure agreements. On the contrary, the more it spread to the public, the better.
That was the only way to get public opinion on their side and launch the new drug quickly, wasn't it?
Reporters who heard the news quickly requested interviews at Korea University Hospital. The Korea University Hospital side also answered the reporters' questions kindly.
Because the Jaeseong Bio side, which provided the clinical trials, had asked them to promote it. They didn't keep it a secret or anything like that. Jaeseong Bio's goal was the fastest possible launch of the dementia treatment.
The development of a dementia treatment was a major incident that turned not just Korea, but the international medical community upside down. There were even medical scholars who flew in on planes.
It was because it was a drug that they couldn't possibly believe was made in such a small country. Even now, they were pouring astronomical amounts of money into developing a dementia treatment, but the progress was hopeless.
They couldn't even imagine how much more investment would be needed to get a handle on it. But since they heard a country called Korea had developed a dementia treatment, they couldn't help but come.
It was to the point where even the hospital director stepped up to hold a press conference. From the second week of the clinical trials, the elite medical team at Korea University Hospital gathered to check everything meticulously.
"Is it true that a dementia treatment has really been developed?"
"Uh... for now, I can tell you that as a result of administering it to severe dementia patients, they have regained consciousness."
"Are these not simply patients whose disease progression was suppressed, or who didn't have dementia in the first place?"
The hospital director cleared his throat, put his mouth to the microphone, and said.
"In the clinical trials, I can clearly state that the patients' cognitive functions recovered significantly. And they are definitely not patients faking dementia."
"The research results will also be released to the public soon."
At that moment, camera flashes went off, and a barrage of questions from reporters followed.
"What about the side effects..."
"When will it be commercialized..."
The reporters' barrage of questions continued, but these were questions they couldn't answer. Because the Jaeseong Bio side held the detailed information.
It was because the Korea University Hospital side only knew the results of the clinical trials, and had no way of knowing how this drug was made.
In the hospital's medical staff discussions, there was even talk about whether they had brought in alien technology. Because it was a drug that could absolutely not be created with current medical technology.
In the public eye, it was said to be an incurable disease that would take at least 30 years... or in the worst case, never be cured as long as humans existed. Furthermore, the affected area was sensitive and problematic.
It wasn't like an arm or a leg that you could just cut off. Because without a brain, a human was just a beast.
"The Jaeseong Bio side will provide the details."
The press conference ended. Everyone looked excited by the incredible news. Tomorrow's news articles would be filled with stories about the development of the dementia treatment. Anything other than that would be embarrassing to even call a topic of conversation.
The development of the dementia treatment was heating up South Korea.
Everyone people met was talking about it.
And the ones who welcomed it the most were the children who were taking care of parents with dementia.
It was chaos at the nursing homes as well.
"Is it true that a dementia treatment has really been developed?"
"Really?"
The children who came to visit their parents at the nursing home said with surprised expressions. The caregiver said.
"Didn't you see the news yesterday? They say a place called Jaeseong Bio developed a groundbreaking dementia treatment. All the articles are out, too."
"Uh..."
The man turned on his phone and looked at the articles. It was true. The nurses working at the nursing hospital also had bright expressions.
If you asked them to pick the most difficult patients to deal with in a nursing home, dementia patients were always number one.
People with cancer or other conditions still had their reason. They were people you could communicate with if you talked to them. Of course, even then, there were occasionally some pain-in-the-ass patients you couldn't talk to...
But dementia was different. Far from being able to communicate, there was no communication possible at all.
On top of that, shitting and pissing in bed was a very common occurrence. Dementia patients were like babies who you didn't know when they would cause an accident if you took your eyes off them for even a second.
The nurses and the people in the hospital room watched the TV with desperate eyes.
It was because it was the day a Jaeseong Bio employee was coming out to hold a press conference. Even the three major broadcasting stations were out there waiting for the press conference.
Reporters from other broadcasting stations were naturally there as well.
"We will now begin the press conference."
As the calm voice of the moderator rang out, the buzzing reporters all shut their mouths at once. However, the anticipation could not be hidden even in the silence. No, it wasn't the kind of emotion that could be hidden.
Dementia. A disease that breaks a person with just its name. While people don't want to catch any kind of disease, it was the disease that proudly took first place among them.
A woman with a haughty impression stepped up onto the podium, where countless microphones were set up, to make the announcement.
"I will make the official announcement."
Soyeon, who paused for a moment, said in a calm voice.
"Our Jaeseong Bio research team has succeeded in developing a drug that can completely cure dementia."
A moment of silence fell due to the bombshell declaration that exploded right from the start.
"What did you say?!"
"Did you say a complete cure?!"
"What about the clinical results?! The side effects?!"
The reporters' questions burst out at the same time. As if they had been waiting for it. It was natural. They said with a certain tone that a dementia treatment had been developed, so it was impossible for questions not to come out.
Soyeon raised her hand for a moment to calm them down.
"Just a moment. I will speak in the order of the presentation."
When she pressed the remote control button, the large screen behind her turned on.
[Clinical Trial Results]
Bold text. And below it, numbers.
"In the clinical trials, we confirmed significant results in all of them. As a result of administering the new drug to a group of 100 severe dementia patients, we saw a 100% recovery rate. Their cognitive abilities are normal, and their intelligence has returned to normal as well."
They had attempted clinical trials not just at Korea University Hospital, but at other places simultaneously.
"No way."
Someone muttered. That statement wasn't wrong. Because it was an impossible thing.
"What about the side effects?"
A reporter asked sharply.
Soyeon nodded.
"That is the most important part."
The screen changed again.
"It is safe to say there are no side effects. If you have to call something a side effect, it would be temporary headaches and fatigue."
The future treatment didn't even have these side effects. However, as a result of downgrading the treatment's performance to dumb it down, this result ended up being produced. It couldn't be helped.
The future dementia treatment was at a level where you would get better immediately if you took just one pill, like cold medicine. There was no need to take the medicine consistently. It was just like a cold.
"Jaeseong Bio will do our best to launch the new drug for the normal treatment of dementia patients."
The medical community was turned upside down by Jaeseong Bio's declaration of the completion of the dementia treatment's development.
People gathered at the Jaeseong Bio company. It was a massive crowd.
Most of them were people who had parents they were nursing who had dementia.
"Please, please! Can't you just give us the medicine once?"
"Please help us, please!"
"Please let me get my parents back!"
The innocent Jaeseong Bio building security guards were having a hard time. It was because it was nearly impossible to control several hundred people. As a result, even the police had to step in before they could disperse.
Well, since there was no need to stage protests or engage in violent fights, they dispersed naturally.