Physician-scientist William Pao, MD, PhD, offers an insider’s view of the discoveries that have revolutionized medicine in his new book, Breakthrough: The Quest for Life-Changing Medicines. Pao will speak at Cure in a fireside chat on Feb. 4, 2025.
The book delves into the stories behind the discovery and development of eight groundbreaking medicines, from life-saving cancer treatments to the advent of gene editing for genetic disorders.
Pao also sheds light on the complex drug development process, emphasizing the blend of scientific expertise, creativity and perseverance required to bring a new medicine to market.
Driven by a personal mission following his father’s death from cancer, Pao draws on decades of experience in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry, including his leadership roles at Pfizer and Roche.
Each chapter explores a specific medical achievement, such as treatments for lung cancer, spinal muscular atrophy, and COVID-19, alongside the challenges scientists faced in decoding biology and tackling debilitating diseases.
Breakthrough is a tribute to the scientists and physicians behind these innovations and a guide to fostering a culture of innovation across industries.
Pao’s work has already garnered positive reviews. It is “a must-read for anyone interested in learning how new therapeutics are created,” said cancer physician and researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee, MD, DPhil, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer.
Released on Jan. 14, 2025, by Oneworld, the hardback edition is priced at $32 and features a foreword by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Harold Varmus, MD, former Director of the National Institutes of Health.
