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Post by hellodolly on Aug 14, 2019 9:01:10 GMT -5
The biggest comments that stuck out to me, and there were many, was Bill's interest in shutting down all advertising as a means to control costs. He is 100% behind 'word of mouth' and just taking a passive approach to getting the word out. "Wait for the forces of capitalism to naturally promote Afrezza." In the mean time, there are other natural forces at work such as time.
I guess his point is that the management is unwilling to take that approach because it goes against everything that is taught in business school. He makes some very valid points, but he just doesn't seem to be the right guy for the movement. That's my sticking point. Bill from Vdex? No credibility. I get an image of him doing an infomercial selling his wares like a carnival barker. While history has given Ron Popiel great wealth and riches selling his counter-top rotissiere, the image of Bill selling Afrezza the same way makes me want to puke.
PS. Read the first few chapters of "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell and you'll get the picture of Ron Popiel and carnival barkers.
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paul
Researcher
Posts: 134
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Post by paul on Aug 14, 2019 9:07:54 GMT -5
I don't know about shutting down advertising, but I would be curious to see the effect of laying off all the sales reps for a month or two.
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Post by prcgorman2 on Aug 14, 2019 10:00:35 GMT -5
And if Bill is voted in as a Director, he'll have 6 others to convince of any changes he would like to make. and in the mean time he'll be marketing Afrezza via VDEX for shareholders. And you have a problem with that ? ? ? Absolutely and so should you. The term "activist" isn't new. One of the more famous examples is Ralph V. Whitworth who was mentored by T. Boone Pickens, another "activist investor". Ralph described in an interview the value of having an "activist investor" board member to "unlock value". The reality quite literally is the board member can be disruptive and the assumption is disruptive in a good way. I get it. I have zero interest in having anyone VDEX Bill or MK would choose. Their agendas are known to them, but not well to me, and although I'd like to have faith that since mnholdem and sports don't like MC and do like Bill and MK, then I should be OK too, but my opinion is they're being misguided by people who should not be trusted.
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Post by hopingandwilling on Aug 14, 2019 10:03:04 GMT -5
Paul if you really wish to see what would happen if MNKD fired their sales staff--the answer can be seen as for what HAS happen when Sanofi stopped marketing Afrezza--and surely you remember what has happened TWICE when MannKind laid off their sales force. It ain't pretty, my friend! It would be foolish to assume that word of mouth can sell Afrezza---and the VDEX honcho with his track record of opening VDEX clinics---it is obvious that he isn't doing mass advertising and how many of these solution clinics for Afrezza has he opened after more than three years of effort? Why does shyster come to mind when one thinks about this fiasco? The stock is barely over $1.00 a share--the investors needed to keep this operation alive--they obvious aren't impressed with VDEXs solution!
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Post by joeypotsandpans on Aug 14, 2019 10:03:49 GMT -5
Peppy, have you seen the movie/documentary Maiden? My wife and I saw it last weekend. Can not wait for a similar movie about Afrezza/Mnkd i.e. feel good! If you have not seen it, I would be surprised if you would not like it, based off of Nasty Woman tag. Let me know. P.S. I hope we do not have to wait 30 years for the Afrezza/Mnkd story to hit the movie theaters.It will be the MNKD version of the 3 Musketeers (I'm being respectful here as I substituted Musketeers in place of a more comedic preference)... the cast: The writer, the bus driver, and the hair loss businessman/attorney. Can you envision someone other than MC having discussion with Martine or future partners/JV's? Or, Bill telling Dr. Kendall there's a better way, or understanding how the formulary structure works, etc. Pardon the following cliche but so appropriate here, you can't make this chit up lol....If I thought there was even the slightest chance of this HFM having any credibility I would exit my position in a heartbeat...and for those that have the wishful thinking that it could happen I have another very appropriate cliche, be careful what you wish for
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Post by sportsrancho on Aug 14, 2019 10:43:56 GMT -5
And if Bill is voted in as a Director, he'll have 6 others to convince of any changes he would like to make. and in the mean time he'll be marketing Afrezza via VDEX for shareholders. And you have a problem with that ? ? ? Absolutely and so should you. The term "activist" isn't new. One of the more famous examples is Ralph V. Whitworth who was mentored by T. Boone Pickens, another "activist investor". Ralph described in an interview the value of having an "activist investor" board member to "unlock value". The reality quite literally is the board member can be disruptive and the assumption is disruptive in a good way. I get it. I have zero interest in having anyone VDEX Bill or MK would choose. Their agendas are known to them, but not well to me, and although I'd like to have faith that since mnholdem and sports don't like MC and do like Bill and MK, then I should be OK too, but my opinion is they're being misguided by people who should not be trusted. Complete bullshit, you’re putting words in our mouth. Good luck have fun I’m done.
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Post by brotherm1 on Aug 14, 2019 11:04:57 GMT -5
Agree. Well said.
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Post by prcgorman2 on Aug 14, 2019 11:29:31 GMT -5
Absolutely and so should you. The term "activist" isn't new. One of the more famous examples is Ralph V. Whitworth who was mentored by T. Boone Pickens, another "activist investor". Ralph described in an interview the value of having an "activist investor" board member to "unlock value". The reality quite literally is the board member can be disruptive and the assumption is disruptive in a good way. I get it. I have zero interest in having anyone VDEX Bill or MK would choose. Their agendas are known to them, but not well to me, and although I'd like to have faith that since mnholdem and sports don't like MC and do like Bill and MK, then I should be OK too, but my opinion is they're being misguided by people who should not be trusted. Complete bullshit, you’re putting words in our mouth. Good luck have fun I’m done. Straighten me out. You and mnholdem have posted multiple times about your distaste for MC, and you in particular have talked up both Bill and MK. You've indicated that they are to be respected and that you are in personal contact with both of them. The posts are out there for others to read and they can decide if I'm skewing the story, but please correct me. What did I say that is putting words in your mouth?
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Post by wgreystone on Aug 14, 2019 12:45:51 GMT -5
Complete bullshit, you’re putting words in our mouth. Good luck have fun I’m done. Straighten me out. You and mnholdem have posted multiple times about your distaste for MC, and you in particular have talked up both Bill and MK. You've indicated that they are to be respected and that you are in personal contact with both of them. The posts are out there for others to read and they can decide if I'm skewing the story, but please correct me. What did I say that is putting words in your mouth? It's pointless to point finger at others. The fact is MNKD SP has been stuck around this bottom for 3 years after loosing 98% of its value, and we don't have clear vision from MC on how to change that soon.
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Post by prcgorman2 on Aug 14, 2019 12:54:09 GMT -5
In your last sentence you can replace "from MC" with "from anyone" with regard to change the PPS soon (assuming you mean an increase in PPS).
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Post by wgreystone on Aug 14, 2019 13:08:54 GMT -5
In your last sentence you can replace "from MC" with "from anyone" with regard to change the PPS soon (assuming you mean an increase in PPS). But MC takes in big check and free share grants.
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paul
Researcher
Posts: 134
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Post by paul on Aug 14, 2019 13:36:41 GMT -5
Paul if you really wish to see what would happen if MNKD fired their sales staff--the answer can be seen as for what HAS happen when Sanofi stopped marketing Afrezza--and surely you remember what has happened TWICE when MannKind laid off their sales force. It ain't pretty, my friend! It would be foolish to assume that word of mouth can sell Afrezza---and the VDEX honcho with his track record of opening VDEX clinics---it is obvious that he isn't doing mass advertising and how many of these solution clinics for Afrezza has he opened after more than three years of effort? Why does shyster come to mind when one thinks about this fiasco? The stock is barely over $1.00 a share--the investors needed to keep this operation alive--they obvious aren't impressed with VDEXs solution! Unfortunately, I'm not sufficiently familiar with Mannkind's history to know what has happened after past sales staff changes. Basically, what I would like to know is the extent of their contribution to sales. At this point, there's no good way to differentiate the effect of commercials, promotions, etc, on sales.
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Post by wgreystone on Aug 14, 2019 14:05:15 GMT -5
Paul if you really wish to see what would happen if MNKD fired their sales staff--the answer can be seen as for what HAS happen when Sanofi stopped marketing Afrezza--and surely you remember what has happened TWICE when MannKind laid off their sales force. It ain't pretty, my friend! It would be foolish to assume that word of mouth can sell Afrezza---and the VDEX honcho with his track record of opening VDEX clinics---it is obvious that he isn't doing mass advertising and how many of these solution clinics for Afrezza has he opened after more than three years of effort? Why does shyster come to mind when one thinks about this fiasco? The stock is barely over $1.00 a share--the investors needed to keep this operation alive--they obvious aren't impressed with VDEXs solution! Unfortunately, I'm not sufficiently familiar with Mannkind's history to know what has happened after past sales staff changes. Basically, what I would like to know is the extent of their contribution to sales. At this point, there's no good way to differentiate the effect of commercials, promotions, etc, on sales. The sales reps may not be very effective in driving new prescriptions as reflected in NRX number, but they may be important to maintain current script writers. The real problem is with sluggish sales, sales reps would not stick around (at least for good ones) for long. That's why MC was keeping hiring/training new reps and expected contribution 3 to 6 months after the hire (his words).
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Post by prcgorman2 on Aug 14, 2019 14:06:27 GMT -5
I don't know, but I doubt prescribers will make an effort to prescribe without assistance from salesforce; especially since many of the prescriptions encounter Prior Authorization and/or STEP programs where it becomes more important for a high-touch support from the salespeople.
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Post by joeypotsandpans on Aug 14, 2019 14:17:21 GMT -5
Nate's "take on it", I would say he votes with the current regime intact, buy under $10, strong buy under $5, and a pounding the table screaming buy under $2 In "other words", Nate can't see us "heading for the rocks"....I like Nate's resume a bit better, CLGN, AAPL, etc.
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