|
Post by mnholdem on Jan 13, 2018 4:20:17 GMT -5
The bigger issue here is the likelihood that reps from competitors are saying these things about Afrezza to the doctors they have been visiting for years. It's not uncommon for a doctor to ask sales reps about competitors' drugs. The FDA limits what a rep can say about his/her own company's products, but that doesn't prevent them from downplaying the competition.
If that rep immediately responded to your question by telling you that the FDA's Afrezza spirometry requirement is a big issue with endos, he likely would say the same thing if asked about Afrezza by the doctor.
There's little MannKind can do about it until the industry becomes better educated. Three years have elapsed since Afrezza was approved by the FDA and neither Sanofi then nor MannKind now have begun recruiting patients for the FDA-mandated 5-year post-market lung safety trial.
That fact aside, there are other trials, both completed and active, that can provide better information about Afrezza. Those will certainly help Afrezza's area sales managers, but it won't stop competing sales reps from badmouthing Afrezza until it's safety and efficacy become common knowledge.
|
|
|
Post by brotherm1 on Jan 13, 2018 4:38:10 GMT -5
The bigger issue here is the likelihood that reps from competitors are saying these things about Afrezza to the doctors they have been visiting for years. It's not uncommon for a doctor to ask sales reps about competitors' drugs. The FDA limits what a rep can say about his/her own company's products, but that doesn't prevent them from downplaying the competition. If that rep immediately responded to your question by telling you that the FDA's Afrezza spirometry requirement is a big issue with endos, he likely would say the same thing if asked about Afrezza by the doctor. There's little MannKind can do about it until the industry becomes better educated. Three years have elapsed since Afrezza was approved by the FDA and neither Sanofi then nor MannKind now have begun recruiting patients for the FDA-mandated 5-year post-market lung safety trial. That fact aside, there are other trials, both completed and active, that can provide better information about Afrezza. Those will certainly help Afrezza's area sales managers, but it won't stop competing sales reps from badmouthing Afrezza until it's safety and efficacy become common knowledge. So MNKD has two years before they have to start the study or two years from now to have completed it? And/or is the study to be five years long?
|
|
|
Post by mango on Jan 13, 2018 5:47:35 GMT -5
The bigger issue here is the likelihood that reps from competitors are saying these things about Afrezza to the doctors they have been visiting for years. It's not uncommon for a doctor to ask sales reps about competitors' drugs. The FDA limits what a rep can say about his/her own company's products, but that doesn't prevent them from downplaying the competition. If that rep immediately responded to your question by telling you that the FDA's Afrezza spirometry requirement is a big issue with endos, he likely would say the same thing if asked about Afrezza by the doctor. There's little MannKind can do about it until the industry becomes better educated. Three years have elapsed since Afrezza was approved by the FDA and neither Sanofi then nor MannKind now have begun recruiting patients for the FDA-mandated 5-year post-market lung safety trial. That fact aside, there are other trials, both completed and active, that can provide better information about Afrezza. Those will certainly help Afrezza's area sales managers, but it won't stop competing sales reps from badmouthing Afrezza until it's safety and efficacy become common knowledge. So MNKD has two years before they have to start the study or two years from now to have completed it? And/or is the study to be five years long?
|
|
|
Post by sportsrancho on Jan 13, 2018 7:45:56 GMT -5
The bedside spirometry test would be done by the nurse not the doctor and would take less than 5 minutes to complete. It is rather routinely performed at family med clinics nationwide. It is not a burden on the patient nor on the staff's time. Laziness. Mango, You and I , along with most on this mb realize how simple the test actually is, I am just letting you all know what was said. In addition, we have heard his point from others. And yes, Laziness is the problem, and in most of the docs eyes (that are unopen to new technology) they seem to go with and stick to "what already works" Although, unbeknownst to them, Afrezza is far superior. As far as who he worked for, I was already at my car door when I thought to ask. He did say that he was with a company that supplies/sells, (not verbatim) Afrezza, but I neglected to get the name of which one. I believe the rep was being straight with you and telling you what he actually believed but you’re much more up-to-date than he is because that’s what the general consensus was at first. Now not so much, it’s as we all know the insurance. I have talked to mankind reps that said the drug wasn’t selling, they were not reps that Mike hired.( Before his time.) They were trained by the old SNY reps. I believe that question was asked to management and Matt said that they we’re working on it, and until then the answer was to get the docs a free Spirometry Kit. I think Al held one in his hand... Because then Tom, the kids dad, just went to target and bought a small cheap one and did the test on his kids himself. Their pediatric Endo didn’t even bother to take the test. Maybe because they’re young with no health problems.
|
|
|
Post by sportsrancho on Jan 13, 2018 10:41:08 GMT -5
Microlife PF 100 Peak Flow Meter for Spirometry with FEV1
On Amazon for $45
|
|
|
Post by mnholdem on Jan 13, 2018 14:34:35 GMT -5
SPIROMETRY (FEV1) INFORMATION FOR AFREZZA®
MannKind Corporation is dedicated to providing support for healthcare providers.The FEV1 Vitalograph Asma-1 meter is available for loan, for a limited time. To request more information on the device loaner program, please submit your request and an AFREZZA sales representative will contact you shortly.
Source: www.afrezza.com/hcp/spirometry-info/
|
|
|
Post by seanismorris on Jan 13, 2018 15:06:15 GMT -5
I think the lack of coverage (Medicare) is the bigger problem.
Docs have to many excuses not to put in the effort with Afrezza.
All the advertising in the world isn’t going to make a difference, if the potential customer is shot down immediately by the Doc saying Afrezza is to expensive...
Yes, there are other ways to reduce the cost, but the Doc has an easy out. The patient is going to have to be very determined to get Afrezza...
I was very hopeful scripts would boom in January and February, but I sounds like there are significant road blocks...
Cash burn is again becoming a concern.
|
|
|
Post by wgreystone on Jan 13, 2018 15:24:45 GMT -5
While walking out of my Doctors office today, I saw a professional looking gentleman walk out of the Endocronologists office across the hall. I saw him again in the lobby downstairs and had to ask, I said, "are you an Endo or a patient?" He replied, neither, I am a pharmaceutical rep. I asked if he knew about Afrezza, He had, so I asked if sales are increasing from his perspective. Unfortunately, he said no. In his opinion, the spirometry test was the biggest impediment, explaining how the Doctors schedules are always full and they just dont want to add anything more to it. I replied with how simple the test is, how they can charge for it, etc, and he said that he realized that, and went on to say that it was not just the time constraints, unfortunately, the doctors are also reluctant to change. I realize that this is not groundbreaking news to any of us, and I am sharing this encounter because I am wondering if MNKD is able to, or if they already are working with the FDA to get that test eliminated. Or if that is even possible? I realize that insurance coverage is improving, ads have begun, and progress is being made, albeit slowly, but the spirometry testing may be hurting sales more than calculated. We spoke for awhile and he commented on how passionate and knowledgable I was about AFREZZA. He jokingly said that I should get a job with MNKD promoting it. I guess 8 years of owning stock in MNKD, having almost $300,000.00 invested, to say that MNKD has my focus would be an understatement! I sure hope we get to fruition! And clearly, I am not alone! Sorry such a long post, just trying to be thorough. GLTA! IMHO, insurance is still the main hurdle. PA would take much more time from the stuff to handle and doctors can't charge insurance for filling up PA forms. Does anybody know why it's so hard to improve insurance coverage for Afrezza? It's already one and a half years since MNKD relaunched Afrezza. I would think MNKD could at least get 100% coverage on Medicare. It's kinda like wasting money on sales rep without first improving insurance coverage. One hundred sales rep worked for a full year and only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense?
|
|
|
Post by seanismorris on Jan 13, 2018 15:39:12 GMT -5
While walking out of my Doctors office today, I saw a professional looking gentleman walk out of the Endocronologists office across the hall. I saw him again in the lobby downstairs and had to ask, I said, "are you an Endo or a patient?" He replied, neither, I am a pharmaceutical rep. I asked if he knew about Afrezza, He had, so I asked if sales are increasing from his perspective. Unfortunately, he said no. In his opinion, the spirometry test was the biggest impediment, explaining how the Doctors schedules are always full and they just dont want to add anything more to it. I replied with how simple the test is, how they can charge for it, etc, and he said that he realized that, and went on to say that it was not just the time constraints, unfortunately, the doctors are also reluctant to change. I realize that this is not groundbreaking news to any of us, and I am sharing this encounter because I am wondering if MNKD is able to, or if they already are working with the FDA to get that test eliminated. Or if that is even possible? I realize that insurance coverage is improving, ads have begun, and progress is being made, albeit slowly, but the spirometry testing may be hurting sales more than calculated. We spoke for awhile and he commented on how passionate and knowledgable I was about AFREZZA. He jokingly said that I should get a job with MNKD promoting it. I guess 8 years of owning stock in MNKD, having almost $300,000.00 invested, to say that MNKD has my focus would be an understatement! I sure hope we get to fruition! And clearly, I am not alone! Sorry such a long post, just trying to be thorough. GLTA! IMHO, insurance is still the main hurdle. PA would take much more time from the stuff to handle and doctors can't charge for filling up PA forms. Does anybody know why it's so hard to improve insurance coverage for Afrezza? It's already one and a half years since MNKD relaunched Afrezza. I would think MNKD could at least get 100% coverage on Medicare. It's kinda like wasting money on sales rep without first improving insurance coverage. One hundred sales rep worked for a full year and only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense? I agree. This January was mentioned as the date for improved coverage. If January was the date assumed by MannKind’s management, and everything they’ve done was based on that... we have a big problem. Burning cash on marketing may be getting us nowhere... it might be sending MannKind to an early grave. MannKind hasn’t done a great job with transparency, they’re so worried about lawsuits, investors are making blind bets. I thought when we got to $5 real progress was being made, scripts say otherwise... In my opinion MannKind has 6 weeks to show explosive growth, if it doesn’t happen by then, this company isn’t going to make it without vastly improved coverage.
|
|
|
Post by sportsrancho on Jan 13, 2018 16:57:08 GMT -5
From what I have heard you have to have a lot of patient demand before the insurance will cover it. If that is indeed the case then Mike is taking the right route with the commercial campaign.
|
|
|
Post by letitride on Jan 13, 2018 18:11:01 GMT -5
From what I have heard you have to have a lot of patient demand before the insurance will cover it. If that is indeed the case then Mike is taking the right route with the commercial campaign. <iframe width="36.0799999999999" height="2.92" id="MoatPxIOPT0_82904051" style="border-style: none; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 36.08px; height: 2.92px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="36.0799999999999" height="2.92" id="MoatPxIOPT0_63374881" style="border-style: none; left: 1728px; top: -107px; width: 36.08px; height: 2.92px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="36.0799999999999" height="2.92" id="MoatPxIOPT0_13986867" style="border-style: none; left: 10px; top: -13px; width: 36.08px; height: 2.92px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> <iframe width="36.0799999999999" height="2.92" id="MoatPxIOPT0_16121928" style="border-style: none; left: 1728px; top: -13px; width: 36.08px; height: 2.92px; position: absolute; z-index: -9999;"></iframe> I believe if anyone knows what their doing its Mike . So Marketing it is!
|
|
|
Post by nylefty on Jan 13, 2018 18:11:03 GMT -5
IMHO, insurance is still the main hurdle. PA would take much more time from the stuff to handle and doctors can't charge insurance for filling up PA forms. Does anybody know why it's so hard to improve insurance coverage for Afrezza? It's already one and a half years since MNKD relaunched Afrezza. I would think MNKD could at least get 100% coverage on Medicare. It's kinda like wasting money on sales rep without first improving insurance coverage. One hundred sales rep worked for a full year and only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense? Why do you think that "MNKD could get at least 100% coverage on Medicare?" Medicare doesn't cover prescription drugs, although some commercial plans do offer supplemental drug coverage to Medicare recipients. As for sales, those reported by Symphony for the last four weeks were almost triple what they were in the same period a year ago ($2,122,000 vs $760,000).
|
|
|
Post by peppy on Jan 13, 2018 18:18:15 GMT -5
IMHO, insurance is still the main hurdle. PA would take much more time from the stuff to handle and doctors can't charge insurance for filling up PA forms. Does anybody know why it's so hard to improve insurance coverage for Afrezza? It's already one and a half years since MNKD relaunched Afrezza. I would think MNKD could at least get 100% coverage on Medicare. It's kinda like wasting money on sales rep without first improving insurance coverage. One hundred sales rep worked for a full year and only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense? Why do you think that "MNKD could get at least 100% coverage on Medicare?" Medicare doesn't cover prescription drugs, although some commercial plans do offer supplemental drug coverage to Medicare recipients. As for sales, those reported by Symphony for the last four weeks were almost triple what they were in the same period a year ago ($2,122,000 vs $760,000). nylefty and all may I ask you to explain this to me like I am a 9 year old? Medicare, so American over 65 or 67 years age, Afrezza is 100% covered? no preauthorizations? Like sweedee's dad covered?
|
|
|
Post by peppy on Jan 13, 2018 18:22:51 GMT -5
While walking out of my Doctors office today, I saw a professional looking gentleman walk out of the Endocronologists office across the hall. I saw him again in the lobby downstairs and had to ask, I said, "are you an Endo or a patient?" He replied, neither, I am a pharmaceutical rep. I asked if he knew about Afrezza, He had, so I asked if sales are increasing from his perspective. Unfortunately, he said no. In his opinion, the spirometry test was the biggest impediment, explaining how the Doctors schedules are always full and they just dont want to add anything more to it. I replied with how simple the test is, how they can charge for it, etc, and he said that he realized that, and went on to say that it was not just the time constraints, unfortunately, the doctors are also reluctant to change. I realize that this is not groundbreaking news to any of us, and I am sharing this encounter because I am wondering if MNKD is able to, or if they already are working with the FDA to get that test eliminated. Or if that is even possible? I realize that insurance coverage is improving, ads have begun, and progress is being made, albeit slowly, but the spirometry testing may be hurting sales more than calculated. We spoke for awhile and he commented on how passionate and knowledgable I was about AFREZZA. He jokingly said that I should get a job with MNKD promoting it. I guess 8 years of owning stock in MNKD, having almost $300,000.00 invested, to say that MNKD has my focus would be an understatement! I sure hope we get to fruition! And clearly, I am not alone! Sorry such a long post, just trying to be thorough. GLTA! IMHO, insurance is still the main hurdle. PA would take much more time from the stuff to handle and doctors can't charge insurance for filling up PA forms. Does anybody know why it's so hard to improve insurance coverage for Afrezza? It's already one and a half years since MNKD relaunched Afrezza. I would think MNKD could at least get 100% coverage on Medicare. It's kinda like wasting money on sales rep without first improving insurance coverage. One hundred sales rep worked for a full year and only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense?quote; only increased weekly NRX by 1 per sales rep. Does that make any sense? reply: only if it is voucher.
|
|
|
Post by nylefty on Jan 13, 2018 18:50:39 GMT -5
Why do you think that "MNKD could get at least 100% coverage on Medicare?" Medicare doesn't cover prescription drugs, although some commercial plans do offer supplemental drug coverage to Medicare recipients. As for sales, those reported by Symphony for the last four weeks were almost triple what they were in the same period a year ago ($2,122,000 vs $760,000). nylefty and all may I ask you to explain this to me like I am a 9 year old? Medicare, so American over 65 or 67 years age, Afrezza is 100% covered? no preauthorizations? Like sweedee's dad covered? Peppy: Old people like me are covered by Medicare when we hit 65, not 67. And as I said, Medicare does NOT cover prescription drugs, including Afrezza. Some commercial supplemental plans sold to Medicare recipients do cover some prescription drugs, but (alas) most of them don't cover Afrezza (or have hurdles such as Prior Authorization to make it difficult to get coverage).
|
|