Although the company was established, Asa was still a commander without an army.
Through a combination of emotional appeal, rational persuasion, and a touch of threat and temptation, Annette Birkin nominally came under Asa wing.
Next, it was simply a matter of finding some employees to handle the day-to-day chores.
Asa handled these trivial matters methodically. First, regarding the factory staff, he recruited back the original employees of the medicinal herb factory.
Due to the security crisis in Raccoon City, new jobs were hard to find. After Asa contacted the original employees through the former boss's wife, most of them sensibly chose to return to work.
Supporting a family and maintaining a decent job was no easy feat.
Taking advantage of his ability to travel between the two worlds, Asa used the lab to prepare the active raw materials for Zombrex and started the production line. The first version of Zombrex was thus released.
After establishing the company, Asa naturally invited Curtis to serve as the company's legal advisor.
This request was perfectly reasonable. Many lawyers at Curtis's firm held various positions in outside companies, so he readily agreed.
"Zombrex?"
Looking at the blue and white packaging in his hand, Curtis was puzzled by the medicine he was seeing for the first time.
"This stuff is incredible. It can completely cure a type of madness after just one course of treatment."
"What madness? Mr. Shen, I need to know its specific effects to write a report for it."
If I told you, would you even believe me?
Asa explained the origin and dangers of the T-Virus and elaborated on its mechanism of action.
"You're saying the murders in Raccoon City were caused by a virus, and that this virus has even contaminated the entire water supply of Raccoon City?"
Curtis's eyes widened. Recalling the rumors that the R.P.D. had recently cordoned off the Victory Lake reservoir, he immediately chose to believe it.
"What price are you planning to set? Will it be prescription or over-the-counter?"
"Over-the-counter, three hundred dollars."
Curtis frowned.
Generally speaking, it was almost impossible for the FDA to approve such a drug for over-the-counter sale.
The approval process for OTC drugs is extremely cumbersome, making them relatively rare in the United States; even simple cold medicine requires a doctor's note to purchase.
It couldn't be helped; the FDA had to consider the employment prospects of the medical profession. If prescription drugs could include a doctor's diagnostic fee, wouldn't that promote positive economic growth?
Considering that the young Eastern man before him claimed to have backing, Curtis set that concern aside for the moment.
A price of three hundred dollars a box was neither particularly cheap nor expensive. If it truly could save lives as Asa described, that price was actually a bargain.
Especially compared to the cost of hospitalization.
"Three hundred dollars a box, one box per course? This price..."
Asa gave Curtis a strange look.
"Who told you it was three hundred dollars a box? I meant per pill."
Curtis:...
That meant thirty-six hundred dollars a box, while the production cost per box was controlled under ten dollars.
Curtis was comparing it to current medications, whereas Asa was comparing it to a T-Virus vaccine. Compared to a vaccine that would cost millions of dollars to develop, thirty-six hundred dollars a box was merely pocket change.
"Very well."
Once Curtis finalized the reporting procedures and Annette Birkin helped write down the specific pharmaceutical data, Asa directly submitted the NDA.
After submitting the new drug application, Asa immediately activated the "tools" he had recruited a few days prior.
The signal transmitter on his wrist sent out a signal. The chips at the back of the necks of the Health Secretary and the Mayor immediately released a faint electric current, making them both shudder.
At City Hall, the Mayor twitched. While discussing the recent virus infection issues with the health department, he whispered, "I have a matter to attend to," and walked out of the meeting room, leaving the other officials looking at each other in confusion.
Entering the restroom, the Mayor subconsciously rubbed the scabbed wound on the back of his neck and let out a deep breath, hoping that whatever Mr. Shen requested wouldn't be too difficult.
Since Asa hadn't hidden his identity at all, Michael Warren quickly discovered who he was.
His record was clean and clear at a glance.
He was a loyal employee who served the Umbrella Corporation, from a family that had been loyal for generations.
So, was this all the Umbrella Corporation's way of discarding him after he had outlived his usefulness? Pushing forward a company-raised loyalist to eliminate a meritorious official like himself?
Mayor Warren's heart sank into gloom. Knowing so many of the Umbrella Corporation's secrets, could he even survive?
Composing himself, Mayor Warren returned to the meeting room just as the Health Secretary, Henry, entered with a report.
"Mr. Mayor, please take a look at this new drug application."
Henry respectfully handed over a report. The company and legal representative on the application were Umbrella Pharmaceutical and Asa.
After reading the application, Warren suddenly understood.
Others might not be clear about the virus in the Victory Lake reservoir, but Warren knew it was the handiwork of the Umbrella Corporation.
This employee from the Umbrella Corporation starting a pharmaceutical company that could treat the virus was clearly acting under the Umbrella Corporation's instructions to resolve the spreading infection.
In that case, as long as he kept giving this company the green light, his political career could likely be saved.
Warren breathed a secret sigh of relief and exchanged a look with Henry; both wore bitter smiles.
"Mr. Mayor, so you..."
"Henry, so you too..."
Less than a day after the NDA was submitted, it received FDA authorization for human clinical trials.
Subsequently, in the Raccoon City Morning Post, it was reported that the Health Secretary had inspected the Raccoon City General Hospital. The progress on the vaccine for the virus found in the Victory Lake reservoir, which had been assigned to the hospital, was looking very grim.
To avoid causing panic in Raccoon City, the Health Secretary passionately stated that they were sincerely inviting companies in the pharmaceutical industry with biodefense qualifications to participate in the discussions.
And as it happened, Asa newly established company possessed exactly those qualifications.