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 medical 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.


His narrative immerses readers in the recent explosion of biotech startups, where vivid characters navigate a world of corporate intrigue and ambiguous morality. For the scientists, doctors, and investors who risk everything to develop new, lifesaving treatments, the rewards can be measured in billions of dollars. For suffering patients, the stakes are life or death. Vardi’s story illustrates why it’s so hard to bring new drugs to market and how profit-driven venture capitalists are shaping the future of medicine.