CH434 | Heir

Patent disputes were occurring across multiple fields.

However, in the case of CRISPR gene-editing patents, the situation was so complex that it was difficult to take anyone’s side.

“Currently, three research institutes are engaged in patent disputes. Primarily, the Broad Institute—jointly established by UC Berkeley, MIT, and Harvard—is claiming that the patent rights belong to them,” the explanation began.

“As far as I know, UC Berkeley was the first to develop the gene-editing technology,” I interjected.

Seongjun Seo and Dr. Jangwoo Kim’s eyes widened.

They probably didn’t expect me to be aware of the CRISPR technology as well.

“Professor Jennifer Doudna from UC Berkeley did indeed publish the first paper on the gene-editing technology,” came the reply.

“Publishing a paper is one thing, but it isn’t enough to be recognized as a patent. That’s why the Broad Institute is currently embroiled in a patent dispute,” he continued.

“Exactly. Simply having a paper doesn’t make it feasible to apply CRISPR practically. However, the Broad Institute developed a method that can actually utilize CRISPR, so they claim the patent rights as their own.”

Seo Seongjun understood why the man’s expression had darkened.

Even from the explanation, the story was headache-inducing due to its complexity.

“You mentioned ‘primarily.’ Does that mean there are other patent disputes as well?”

“Yes. Around the same time, a group of professors at Korean University also registered a patent for CRISPR technology. I can’t speak for the U.S. or Europe, but in Korea, it’s highly likely that Korean University holds the patent rights.”

Korean University had also demonstrated outstanding research performance in the field of DNA.

However, no one had realized that they possessed technology significant enough to claim CRISPR patent rights.

“So, if Centurion wants to utilize CRISPR technology, they’d have to negotiate with at least three institutions,” Seo concluded.

“Yes. Once the patent dispute is resolved, they can sign a contract with the winning party. But since the dispute began last year, it’s expected that a ruling will take at least five years.”

“Until then, it will be extremely difficult to enter a patent-use agreement.”

UC Berkeley, the Broad Institute, and Korean University.

Especially in the case of Korean University, the project had been funded with government subsidies.

Therefore, it was highly likely that the patent rights in Korea would go to the research team at Korean University.

“Even if we want to use the CRISPR technology, it’s unclear who we should contract with.”

“There’s a way to untangle a complicated knot all at once.”

“Is there really such a method?”

“You simply cut it all with scissors. Then, carefully wind the thread onto a new spool, and you save a lot of wasted time.”

“I have no idea what you mean by that.”

CEO Seongjun Seo tilted his head in confusion.

He had no clue about the intent behind my words.

“You mentioned three institutions are currently involved in the patent dispute, right? Then we just purchase all the patents they hold. Could there be an easier solution than that?”

“Is that possible? Buying patents from companies isn’t too difficult, but universities are a different story. Especially professors like Jennifer Doudna and the Broad Institute team—they’ll never willingly sell their patents.”

What problem can’t be solved with money?

And in the U.S., David could make this problem vanish rather easily.

Moreover, we held a card that could win over the hearts of the professors.

“I’ll handle everything regarding the CRISPR patents. Soon, we’ll be able to freely use the gene-editing technology.”

“Thank you. I truly appreciate you accommodating such a bold request. We will repay your kindness with successful new drug development,” Dr. Jangwoo Kim said, his smile as bright as a child’s.

That was how passionate he was about research and learning. With Dr. Kim leading Centurion’s scientific efforts, the company’s future looked exceptionally promising.

We shook hands, creating a warm, cooperative atmosphere.

But suddenly, CEO Seongjun Seo broke the mood with an unexpected report.

“Novo Nordisk has sent a protest document. They say if we don’t acknowledge part of Yugo Bin’s shares, they will pursue legal action.”

“So the patent disputes aren’t just someone else’s problem. Looks like we’re getting pulled into patent litigation too. But don’t worry—Novo Nordisk will never take Yugo Bin from us.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“If it were truly serious, they would have already filed a lawsuit. What reason would they have to send a meaningless threat document otherwise? You can safely ignore it.”

A barking dog is never truly dangerous.

Even if it suddenly lunges, we already hold the leash—one tug and that’s the end of it.

After finishing the Centurion business trip, I returned to headquarters and called David to secure the CRISPR patent.

[Boss! Calling at this hour—does this mean you have something for me to handle?]

“Are you aware of the news regarding the CRISPR patent disputes?”

[I only know that a lawsuit took place last year. But they said the case is so complicated that no one knows how it will conclude.]

“People working hard for the advancement of human medicine shouldn’t be fighting among themselves, right? So we’ll buy the CRISPR patents held by UC Berkeley and the Broad Institute and end the disputes ourselves.”

The plan was to consolidate all CRISPR-related patents under the Taewoo Group.

That would render the patent disputes meaningless.

Not only would we be free to use the CRISPR technology at will, but any other pharmaceutical company or research institute that wanted to use it would have to pay royalties to us.

[It’s definitely possible through lobbying. But it will cost a lot of money. The tail might end up being bigger than the stomach—are you sure about this?]

“It’s worth it. Also, make an offer to the professors: propose joint CRISPR research at Korean IIT and extend faculty positions. Promise them more than triple their current salary and unlimited support for any research they want to pursue.”

[Since it’s what you’re asking, of course I’ll do it. But I have a feeling we might just end up losing money.]

The CRISPR technology was still undervalued.

While academia and the medical field recognized its potential, that was all there was—acknowledgment without tangible leverage.

But in just a few years, the status of CRISPR would change dramatically.

Considering that CRISPR technology even won a Nobel Prize, what else needed to be said?

Now was the perfect time to acquire both the patents and the professors at a relatively low cost.

Centurion should also aim to have at least one Nobel laureate of its own, shouldn’t it?

That would elevate Centurion’s prestige and allow us to market a variety of new drugs—including Yugo Bin’s discoveries—even more effectively.

***

At the Financial Tower, I watched TV with Vice Chairman Han

To be precise, it wasn’t a regular program—it was the broadcast of a vote, monitoring the results of the Brexit referendum, not a presidential or general election.

“Recent polls show public opinion on Brexit is split right down the middle. Even yesterday’s survey produced razor-thin results within the margin of error,” the newscaster reported.

“Why are your hands trembling? Relax. Brexit will definitely pass,” I said.

“The funds already deployed for pre-Brexit maneuvers amount to 300 trillion won. Short-selling British companies, acquiring stocks in neighboring countries, even targeting the euro. If Brexit doesn’t pass, Taewoo Securities—and the entire Financial Tower—will take a massive hit,” Vice Chairman Han raised his voice.

Until the voting results came in, the public sentiment was impossible to predict.

To calm the anxious Vice Chairman, I shared some encouraging insights.

“Looking purely at the polls, it’s close. But if you break down the detailed indicators, Brexit is bound to pass.”

“Because of differences in active voter groups?”

“Exactly. Older voters and conservatives tend to vote at higher rates, and most of them oppose Brexit. On the other hand, younger voters and progressives largely support it.”

This pattern applies not only in Korea but globally: as people age, their likelihood of voting increases, whereas younger individuals are less likely to go to the polls.

It wasn’t meant to disparage the youth; it was simply a trend that occurred worldwide for various reasons.

“I know that, but even gamblers are betting on remaining. And what kind of people are gamblers? They don’t stake a single cent on a losing fight. Yet they estimate a 70% chance of the EU remaining.”

“Now that voting has closed, we can just watch the exit polls—or in this case, the predictive surveys.”

Normally, elections have exit polls.

However, the Brexit referendum didn’t conduct exit polls on television. Instead, polling agencies conducted predictive surveys using sample groups of 5,000 or 10,000 respondents.

“The predictive survey results are in!”

“What do they say?”

The Planning Director had already obtained the predictive results and rushed into the office.

Sequentially, he reported the results from three polling agencies:

“Two of the agencies show remaining in the EU with 54% and 52% support. But the agency with the largest sample—10,000 respondents—shows the opposite, with 52% favoring leaving the EU.”

I swallowed hard without even realizing it.

Though I had told Vice Chairman Han to calm down, receiving the predictive survey results made me tense as well.

“This really is a razor-thin outcome.”

“Two of the polling agencies show that remaining is more favorable. Shouldn’t we take action now?”

“What difference would acting now make? Ultimately, we won’t know until the official vote results are announced.”

This was a strategy involving hundreds of trillions of won.

Acting prematurely wouldn’t dramatically reduce potential losses, and it could even jeopardize the profits we’d gain if Brexit passed. Patience was the only option.

“They say it will take about ten hours to complete the counting.”

“Try to catch some rest in the lounge until then.”

“Do you think I could sleep in this state? I might go to the sauna to relax and come back later,” Vice Chairman Han replied, nervously biting his nails.

It was a completely different scene from the Korean presidential election.

In that election, Candidate Choi Jae-seok had consistently held the advantage, and even if he hadn’t won, the financial loss to Taewoo Group would not have been significant.

But Brexit was different.

With Taewoo Securities and the entire Financial Tower having staked massive amounts, a failure of Brexit could have wiped out all the profits gained from the oil wars and short-selling Chinese stocks.

We passed the time tensely, waiting.

As the workday neared its end, Vice Chairman Han came to the office, still visibly anxious, awaiting the vote results.

About thirty minutes later, the counting results were finally announced.

[Leave EU: 51.9%, Remain EU: 48.1%]

“Whaaa! Brexit has passed!”

“Phew… that’s the result we expected.”

“It’s done! It’s finally done!”

Vice Chairman Han’s cheer sparked the entire Financial Tower.

All the employees who had been anxiously waiting for the results erupted into shouts.

After winning a bet involving such an enormous amount, why would anyone hold back their voice?

“Phew.”

While everyone cheered, I let out a sigh.

Thankfully, the course of history hasn’t changed.

I had worried that my previous actions might trigger a butterfly effect that could overturn the Brexit result, but fortunately, none of the feared outcomes occurred this time.