Chapter 162: The Trial

November 15th, 2026.

Michael's enterprises were growing. The SolaraTech market in Southeast Asia and in Europe was growing. Penetration to China and the United States was still facing its own challenges but he knew sooner or later, they were going to be penetrated, and it must be done as he needed those system points for him to avail more futuristic technology from the system.

As for the Reyes Transportation Company, the fleet of modern e-jeepneys and buses grew significantly. They now have a fleet of 100 modern e-jeepneys operating on different routes and have been a preferred choice of commuters given the luxury it offers to the passengers.

SolaraTech value has risen to 20 billion dollars, which is expected to hit 50 or 100 billion should they successfully enter the American and Chinese Market.

However, while Michael's current enterprises were generating him money, the new ones are starting to get recognition from the Department of Health and the Department of Food and Drug Association.

The Alzheimer's pill passed the drug efficacy phase in clinical trials and now received a permit to test the pill on a human subject, marking a significant milestone in its development.

Meanwhile, Medipod's patent was successfully filed and was given permission from the Department of Health, the Department of Science and Technology, and the local regulatory bodies in the Philippines to start pilot testing in select hospitals.

But of course, Michael wanted to test the effectiveness of the Alzheimer's pill.

***

November 21st, 2026.

In Saint Luke Medical Center in BGC, a man in his sixties was lying down in a private, well-appointed room, his expression serene despite the turmoil in his mind. His name was Leonardo Madrigal, a renowned industrialist in the Philippines, known for his sharp business acumen and philanthropic efforts.

Despite his wealth and influence, Leonardo faced a personal battle with Alzheimer's disease, which had been progressively eroding his memories and cognitive functions.

Leonardo's family, desperate for a solution, had been following the developments of Michael's Alzheimer's pill with great interest. When the opportunity for human trials arose, they did not hesitate to enroll Leonardo, hoping for a miracle that could halt or even reverse his condition.

Moments later, his doctor, Dr. Isabella Gomez, entered the room.

With a slight nod, Leonardo settled back against his pillow.

***

Three weeks later, Dr. Hector Santos was meticulously reviewing the laboratory results for Leonardo Madrigal. His eyes scanned through the data, focusing on the biomarker levels and the imaging scans that had been conducted regularly since the initiation of the treatment.

The blood tests revealed a significant reduction in the levels of beta-amyloid plaques and tau proteins. Normally, these proteins accumulate in the brain and lead to the degeneration of neural tissue, but the levels in Leonardo's bloodstream had decreased substantially, suggesting that the pill was effectively targeting and breaking down these harmful proteins.

Dr. Santos then turned his attention to the neuroimaging results. The MRI scans showed less brain atrophy compared to the baseline before the treatment started, indicating a slowdown in the disease's progression.

Furthermore, the PET scans demonstrated improved neural activity in areas previously showing significant decline due to Alzheimer's, particularly in the hippocampus and cortex, which are critical for memory and cognitive function.

Cross-referencing these results with the cognitive function tests, Dr. Santos observed marked improvements in Leonardo's memory recall, problem-solving abilities, and overall cognitive performance. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, which had shown severe impairment before, now reflected a move towards the normal cognitive range.

Excited by these findings, Dr. Santos concluded that the Alzheimer's pill developed by Reyes Pharmaceuticals was not only slowing the disease's progression but seemingly reversing some of the cognitive decline associated with it.

"I can't believe it," Santos muttered, then his voice started to get higher. "The pill worked, it's working!"

He immediately picked up his phone and then contacted his boss. A few seconds later, Michael received the call.

"Dr. Santos."

"Mr. Reyes. Thank you for receiving this call. I have some important news for you about the pill for Alzheimer's."

"What is it?"

"It's working sir! The pill is working! Sir, you are a genius!"