Breakthrough

The Quest for Life-Changing Medicines

By: Dr William Pao

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Paperback | 3 February 2026

At a Glance

Paperback
352 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.7 x 12.9 x 2.9

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Meet the doctors, scientists and patients patients fighting the world’s worst diseases

‘A must read.’ Siddhartha Mukherjee, bestselling author of The Emperor of All Maladies

What does it take to create a new medicine? The trajectory from laboratory to your neighbourhood pharmacy rarely runs smooth. Drug hunting demands radical leaps of imagination, the expertise of many… and a hefty dollop of luck. Unsurprisingly, ‘eureka’ moments come few and far between – but, when they do, they change lives.

Charting the discovery of eight revolutionary drugs, Dr William Pao cuts to the innovative heart of biomedical research and celebrates the tireless work of the scientists, doctors, patients and families fighting for better medical care. For 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. Documenting these fascinating journeys, Breakthrough grants a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the medicines that improve – and very often save – our lives.

Foreword by Nobel Prize-Winner Harold Varmus

***

‘Utterly compelling.’ Dame Kate Bingham, author of The Long Shot

‘A celebration of medical innovation.’ Guardian

‘Captivating... An essential read.’ Art Levinson, former CEO of Genentech

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