Moonshot: Inside Pfizer's Nine-month Race to Make the Impossible Possible

Pharmaceutical industry is very closely held industry not quite often you would learn about some success stories like this. Kudos to Albert to share of covid-19 vaccine development journey which is benchmark project in any standard.A vaccine that requires usually 8 years to develop was done in 8 months. MOONSHOT indeed. Necessity is the mother of invention. Starting from the BioNTec integration to the development of the mRNA vaccine, parallel full kitting, facility readiness and manufacturing, supply chain integration, pricing and distribution are very well explained with the intricate details. Author also explained the lobby and political behind pharma products introducition. It is not less than a SCI-FI thriller story. Couldn't put the book down before finishing it. Project light speed is a benchmark in unleashing human potential in developing and delivery of Pharmaceutical vaccine to combat serious pendemic. Thanks Dr. Albert Bourla for sharing this roller coaster ride which can benefit the leaders to think differently in order to make a difference in their own chosen field. As a project manager I cherish this case study.I would give five stars for the book and one more star for taking initiative to share a positive dimension of the pharma world. There is no dirth of negative press in this field. 6 stars it is.

Remember the difficult days of the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 – when we were unable to enjoy our pre-pandemic routines? Routines of being with families, relatives and friends, going out to dinner, enjoying festivities, even going to the office/work? None of us knew when things would ever get back to normal like we knew them then. Pfizer changed that - by creating the vaccine. It gave us hope!Pfizer was the first company to get the Emergency Use Authorization on 12/11/2020, and the full approval on 8/23/2021 - less than a year ago.It is the embodiment of its culture, single-minded belief, faith, dedication, and ultimate success of the vaccine that made it possible. This is the story of how it came together.Ideally, this book should be read in one sitting, but if not, more time can be spent on deeply reflecting on the events as they unfolded.In 191 crisp pages, Dr. Bourla takes you through the journey – a focused view into how the vision crystallized, the alternatives that were considered, the selected option, the dynamics of its creation with BioNTech’s partnership, the distribution logistics, the interactions with leaders, and most importantly how it would need to be priced for equity so everyone in the world could be vaccinated.This book contains some very thought provoking aspects one would otherwise never know on how the enormous difficulties were overcome. Listed below are some of the specific areas that were particularly interesting:- The quotes at the beginning of every chapter set the stage for what to expect in each chapter- The idea that made the difference in the framing, timing, and urgency – page 49- The suspense while waiting for the results of the Phase 3 trial – page 64- The description of the first shipments – page 96- How the family was very much a part of everything throughout the journey – pages 48, and 73- Dr. Bourla’s memory for details and numbers – page 92- How passion can sometimes get in the way of perfection – page 56- Dr. Bourla’s reflections and feelings in relation to many areas – pages 73, 103, 131, 172, and 187- How its culture (in the preface page xvii) and the three guiding questions can enrich our own lives – on page 190A truly inspiring book on how the impossible can be achieved. It is indeed an honor to share these thoughts. Thank you Dr. Bourla for this miracle, your leadership, and for sharing this story. We are forever grateful.

I was fascinated to learn of the many challenges that had to be addressed and decided on in such a short period of time. It demonstrated the power of courageous leadership and scientists who demonstrated the intelligence, innovative mindset and commitment to serve the world's needs before those of the shareholders. It was a bold move that had it not proven successful, would have had a large negative impact on Pfizer's stock and reputation. I applaud Dr. Bourla and the many Pfizer employees who at every step of the way, challenged themselves to make the impossible possible. Every country owes them a debt of gratitude for how they have approached this as a global problem and not an American one, and lived up to their commitments despite political pressure from the arrogant Mr. Kushner.

Dr. Bourla is a personable and highly effective CEO, and his book contributes to an understanding of how he has managed Pfizer. What I was looking for was a better understanding of how the mRNA vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna differed. I also wanted clarification in how stem cells were used, and this was not fully explained in the book.

Moonshot gives the reader a window into how in the world Pfizer was able to successfully produce the vaccine of the century in a such a short amount of time. Many lessons on leadership and understanding the value of having the right people on the bus can be found in this easy read!