THE ADJUSTMENT CLINIC

The phone rang on the green light line. The CEO watched the light blink in time with the soft purring ring tone. The green line signified a customer had made it through the security screen. It would be a “for real” client and not a law enforcement agency and especially not the DEA or FBI. She picked up the receiver.

“Adjustment Clinic, how may I help you?” Rowena Diaz projected a female assertive voice.

“This is Dr. Porfirio Quintos from Legg Pharmaceuticals. I’m the President and Chairman of the Board. We have a problem with our Mercedes and need your services.”

“Just a minute please while I access your file.” The code name for a screened and cleared candidate for Adjustment Clinic acceptance was “Mercedes”. Diaz opened her desk file drawer. It had a telephone-keyed security lock which she articulated in three-seconds. She pulled the file labeled Legg Pharmaceuticals. “I have your folder. You were referred by one of our field agents from the exhibit booth at the DIA annual meeting from last month.”

“Yes. How come it took so long for me to reach your office?”

“Thousands of people attend the Drug Information Association Annual meeting and many of our calls are curiosity seekers. Like your organization, we have several layers of security checks before I receive an inquiry. Our agency operates outside of the commercial arena.” Diaz sensed his anxiety. Good. Desperate situations offer the best negotiations.

“Well, there’s only two-months left before my competition goes to the FDA. They infiltrated our ranks and accelerated their timelines to get their drug in for registration ahead of us.” Porfirio Quintos paused. No voice was returned from Diaz. “I mean can you stop them? We need six-months to complete our New Drug Application. They played dirty. If they get approval for their pain drug before ours they’ll receive the major market share. I’m talking about a billion-dollar blockbuster drug. I… we, need your help.”

“How did they violate your ranks?” Diaz already knew the answer.

“We hired a new associate medical director to help put together our NDA. That person claimed to have had worked at several companies including Wilson Medical Products. He seemed ideal for us. It turned out that he was still an employee from Wilson and was an outright spy. In fact, he was responsible for delaying our filing by messing up our final data quality review.”

“Wilson Medical has a track record for questionable and definitely subversive activities. The Adjustment Clinic expects a premium fee for this job.” Quintos needs to know how well we’re informed.

“I know their reputation but this man’s résumé and his interview did not indicate any ongoing attachment to any other drug development companies. Can you help us? Please.”

Diaz could feel the man sweat. “We can stop their NDA. You said six-months were needed by Legg Pharmaceuticals?”

“Yes. A margin of two additional months would be even better.”

“How much pain do you want Wilson Medical Products to suffer?” Diaz loved this part.

“I want their NDA destroyed and I want that bastard spy Dr. Paul DeCarlo ruined.”

“I’ll have our people evaluate their timetable. Wilson’s NDA will never make it to the FDA. Dr. DeCarlo will be history. We can stop their current submission and corrupt their database for the drug, rendering it useless for over a year.” Diaz paused.

“Yes. Yes.”

“No reference must ever be made to the Adjustment Clinic or your name will be linked to the sabotage events and your company will be destroyed. Do you understand and agree to our terms?” Diaz deftly worked her computer keyboard on the Legg file.

“Of course I agree. I never would have sought out your help otherwise. If Legg Pharmaceuticals doesn’t get the NDA first, we go down the tubes.” Quintos looked at his computer screen ready to click on the New Drug Application timeline. The NDA had taken Wilson Medical over six-months to get into pristine condition for the FDA to review and hopefully approve for registration to enter the prescription market.

“It will cost twenty million dollars. Five million up front and the rest in installments as your drug reaps in the profits.”

“Twenty million?”

“A drop in the buck for a billion dollar blockbuster drug. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes. Yes. When will you start?”

“When the five million is deposited to the account number I will now give to you.”