COLD WARS: THE ZICAM STORY - BOOK AND SCREENPLAY follows Dr. Charles Hensley, an unconventional former professor, as he strives to develop Zicam, a potential cure for the common cold. Beginning in the late 1990s amid the chaos of a karaoke party at Cleveland Chiropractic College, Hensley reevaluates his academic career.

Leaving academia, he teams up with former student Rob Davidson to launch a biotech company, facing various challenges such as investor skepticism, partnership conflicts, and competition from established products like Cold-EEZE. Despite these difficulties, they successfully develop Zicam, utilizing their research on zinc's impact on cold viruses.

The narrative captures their journey through triumphs and struggles, highlighting key moments involving investor negotiations and the eventual launch of Zicam, which receives notable attention and acclaim. Themes of ambition, resilience, and transformation are central to the story. Ultimately, Zicam emerges as a successful product, changing the lives of its founders. Hensley reflects on his personal growth and stability, concluding with Zicam's lasting impact on the healthcare industry and the characters' evolution from chaos to success.