Late in the afternoon of December 28, 2001, the fax machine at the SoHo offices of ImClone Systems, spit out a stunning announcement. Citing sloppy data and poor research design, the FDA had spiked the company's application to file for approval for its much-anticipated cancer drug, Erbitux. For the officers and employees of the hot young biotech firm, it was a very bad day -- and the start of two very bad years. One month later, in …showed first 75 words of 818 total…

…showed last 75 words of 818 total…says, "instilled more camaraderie than it destroyed. It was almost a moral booster. Because we thought, 'If we can rise to meet this challenge and succeed, we're incredible.' " Lynch and his brave-hearted crew finally had their celebration earlier this year, when the FDA approved Erbitux for patient use. Even the buttoned-up CEO risks a smile at the memory. "When it actually happened, it was mind-blowing. Like having a child." This time, there was champagne.