William Pao is a physician-scientist whose career has spanned academia and industry. He was previously Chief Development Officer for Pfizer.
Meet the doctors, scientists, patients and campaigners tackling the
world’s worst diseases
We often hear about the dark side of the pharmaceutical industry – from
extortionate pricing to the opioid epidemic. But there’s another story to be
told.
the innovative heart of medical science and celebrates the tireless work of
those fighting for better care. Behind each of these medicines – whether a
potentially life-saving new treatment for cancer, or something as
commonplace as paracetamol – there stands a cast of characters and a
wealth of stories.
The trajectory from the laboratory to the local chemist is rarely a straight line.
Eureka moments are few are far between. Drug hunting demands leaps of
imagination and lateral thinking, the accumulation of the knowledge and
expertise of many, and – nearly always – a hefty dollop of luck.
Breakthrough documents these journeys and grants a privileged look at the
stories behind the medicines that improve – and very often save – our lives.
