Xu Wei, a 30-year-old father, is trying to save his one-year-old son from a rare genetic disease that could kill him. The young boy, Haoyang, could have a few months to live. While there is a treatment for him, the medication is not in China. Moreover, the government has closed all borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic; thus, he cannot seek help outside the country. However, Wei is willing to do anything to keep his son alive, even if he has to develop the drug himself.

Wei has built a lab at his home to develop a cure. He had made the lab in a building at south-western Kunming. The disease Haoyang has is Menkes syndrome. The disease affects how the body processes copper. Copper plays a role in developing the nervous system.

The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center reports that symptoms of Menkes disease appear a few months after an infant is born. People with the disease rarely live past the age of 3.

Wei learned pharmaceuticals after his predicament 

When Wei discovered that the only therapy for his son’s donations was outside China, he immediately learned pharmaceuticals. We never went to school last high school. He also ran an online business before his son’s illness. His family and friends have discouraged him from creating the drug and say it is pointless.

Although Haoyang hardly moves or speaks, Wei refers to his son having emotions and a soul.

Menkes has faced several challenges while trying to make his son’s medication. One such challenge was that the online documents on the disorder were in English. Fortunately, he was able to use translation software to understand them.

Wei made copper histidine for his son

Wei tried to find out if copper pristine could work. He mixed sodium hydroxide, water, histidine, and copper chloride dihydrate to develop it. Wei now Gives his son a daily dose of the medication to provide him with copper. After the treatment, Wei says that a few blood tests went back to normal.

Wei has said that pharmaceutical companies have no interest in his medication as it has no commercial value since very few people have the disease. He has also stated that if borders were open, he would have traveled to find medication for his son.