For Blood and Money

Billionaires, Biotech, and the Quest for a Blockbuster Drug

By: Nathan Vardi

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

A gripping business narrative and scientific thriller about what it takes to bring a wonder drug to market—and save countless lives.

For Blood and Money tells the little-known story of how an upstart biotechnology company created a one-in-a-million cancer drug and how the core team—denied their share of the profits—went and did it again. In this epic saga of money and science, veteran financial journalist Nathan Vardi explains how the invention of two of the biggest cancer drugs in history became (for their backers) two of the greatest Wall Street bets of all time.

In the multibillion-dollar business of biotech, where pharmaceutical companies, the government, hedge funds, and venture capitalists have spent billions on funding, experimentation, and treatments, a single molecule can stop cancer in its tracks—and make the people who find that rare molecule astonishingly rich. For Blood and Money follows a small team at a biotech start-up in California, who have found one of these rare molecules. Their compound, known as a BTK inhibitor, seems to work on a vicious type of leukemia. When patients start rising from their hospice beds, the team knows they’re onto something big.

What follows is a story of genius, pathos, and drama, in which vivid characters navigate a world of corporate intrigue and ambiguous morality. Vardi’s narrative immerses listeners in the recent explosion of biotech start-ups. He describes the scientists, doctors, and investors who are risking everything to develop new, life-saving treatments, and introduces suffering patients for whom the stakes are life-or-death. A gripping nonfiction listen, For Blood and Money illustrates why it’s so hard to bring new drugs to market, explains why they are so expensive, and examines how profit-driven venture capitalists are shaping the future of medicine.

©2023 Nathan Vardi (P)2023 Audible, Inc.

Entertaining and informative

I really enjoyed the book. Educational about cancer and tech investing. We’ll performed as well.

Fascinating look into the ecosystem and politics of drug development

Vardi gives a detailed account of the harrowing story of the grit and perseverance of scientists and investors as they put everything on the line to bring an elegant molecule in a novel class of class of cancer medicines to patients with little alternative. Amazing testament to what people can achieve when they work together. The money involved is mind boggling and not something that I personally focus on, but it is a clear driver for many involved. Highly recommended.

a close view of the biotechnology industry

Was riveted by the story of the Ceos and the researchers. I never realized that it is a ruthless field.

Amazing Ride Through the World of Biotech

Really interesting story with lots of twists and turns as the story unfolds of how two blockbuster drugs were delivered to market.

Captivating!

Great storyline and narration! The story started slow but really picked up pace over the chapters!

Great true and timely story of our broken system

Whatever a page turner is for audio...this is it. I am an insider in the industry, and to me this was as good as any action movie.

Really enjoyed this title

A great story at the intersection of cutting edge medical science, high -stakes finance, and human personalities and foibles. I found it fascinating to get an inside view on the development of new drugs, whose failures often exceed their promise, while many others sit on shelves waiting for often serendipitous discovery by financiers and corporations.

Interesting story hampered by incorrect pronunciation

As a hematologist the story of the real world of venture capitalism in the production of this outstanding drug was interesting and disturbing. The docs doing the real work were cast aside because of finance kings- very unfair. The story was hampered by incorrect pronunciation of specific scientific terms (such as the initial mentions of tyrosine kinases and the organization ASH) which would have been easily corrected if the narrator (who is good otherwise) did this in the presence of a person in the field.

the sums of money will blow your mind

it was an important story to tell about modern drug development. it's interesting to hear how hedgefunds and investors make massively expensive drug trials possible sometimes taking huge losses but this time making an enormous windfall.

Gripping

So so good!! I work in this field and it really brought alive the stress and tedium of protocols, trials, regulatory reviews…all so boring but a gateway to better health and prosperity.