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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 12:55:13 GMT -5
Post by gomnkd on Feb 1, 2015 12:55:13 GMT -5
od, afrezzauser's twitter numbers are going up a lot now that he is using Afrezza and writing about his experience. He now has almost 500 followers. At this rate if he keeps documenting his daily use, in a month he may have 5,000 followers. I also saw that there is discussion about Afrezza on the American Diabetes forum pages. RS He really should have a reality show. Or at the least get his Dexcom uploaded to his website real time along with timing of food intake, calorie count and Afrezza dosage. |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 13:55:00 GMT -5
Post by BD on Feb 1, 2015 13:55:00 GMT -5
"Need to know" how to spell afrezza in the page address! |
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dean
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Post by dean on Feb 1, 2015 14:03:21 GMT -5
Perhaps an effective Sanofi strategy could be to provide docs with a starter spirometer at a cost to Sanofi that would have a relatively low impact on the marketing budget. Certainly would eliminate a doc's excuse of not having a spirometer as a reason for not prescribing Afrezza and provide a contribution margin to measured increase in incremental sales. I suspect it would probably come across as a positive to long investors and a disappointment to the shorts. Competitors would react to it as an "ah shxt moment".
I googled spirometer prices and found quite a range. This site sells spirometers from a low of $10 for a simple device to over $30,000 for an over-the-top star trek device: www.medicaldevicedepot.com/Spirometers-s/30.htm?searching=Y&sort=1&cat=30&show=25&page=1 |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 14:18:39 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by jpg on Feb 1, 2015 14:18:39 GMT -5
Perhaps an effective Sanofi strategy could be to provide docs with a starter spirometer at a cost to Sanofi that would have a relatively low impact on the marketing budget. Certainly would eliminate a doc's excuse of not having a spirometer as a reason for not prescribing Afrezza and provide a contribution margin to measured increase in incremental sales. I suspect it would probably come across as a positive to long investors and a disappointment to the shorts. Competitors would react to it as an "ah shxt moment".
I googled spirometer prices and found quite a range. This site sells spirometers from a low of $10 for a simple device to over $30,000 for an over-the-top star trek device: www.medicaldevicedepot.com/Spirometers-s/30.htm?searching=Y&sort=1&cat=30&show=25&page=1 Like I answered someone else: I think many are putting too much emphasis on spirometers. Giving a free spirometer to patients would be at the very least bad marketing... |
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dean
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Post by dean on Feb 1, 2015 14:40:06 GMT -5
Perhaps an effective Sanofi strategy could be to provide docs with a starter spirometer at a cost to Sanofi that would have a relatively low impact on the marketing budget. Certainly would eliminate a doc's excuse of not having a spirometer as a reason for not prescribing Afrezza and provide a contribution margin to measured increase in incremental sales. I suspect it would probably come across as a positive to long investors and a disappointment to the shorts. Competitors would react to it as an "ah shxt moment".
I googled spirometer prices and found quite a range. This site sells spirometers from a low of $10 for a simple device to over $30,000 for an over-the-top star trek device: www.medicaldevicedepot.com/Spirometers-s/30.htm?searching=Y&sort=1&cat=30&show=25&page=1 Like I answered someone else: I think many are putting too much emphasis on spirometers. Giving a free spirometer to patients would be at the very least bad marketing... jpg: Thanks for your feedback. I was not suggesting "free spirometers to patients"... that would be bad marketing and a bad idea. I was referring to doctors that do not have office spirometers. Everyone has their own life experiences. Mine, with respect to running a corporate marketing organization, has been that removing barriers at reasonable costs to generate sales worked for me. |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 14:50:46 GMT -5
Post by booboo on Feb 1, 2015 14:50:46 GMT -5
Like I answered someone else: I think many are putting too much emphasis on spirometers. Giving a free spirometer to patients would be at the very least bad marketing... jpg: Thanks for your feedback. I was not suggesting "free spirometers to patients"... that would be bad marketing and a bad idea. I was referring to doctors that do not have office spirometers. Everyone has their own life experiences. Mine, with respect to running a corporate marketing organization, has been that removing barriers at reasonable costs to generate sales worked for me. Think that would be viewed as an illegal kick-back since the spirometer test could be performed & billed for other than afrezza. Thoughts? |
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dean
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 15:11:11 GMT -5
Post by dean on Feb 1, 2015 15:11:11 GMT -5
jpg: Thanks for your feedback. I was not suggesting "free spirometers to patients"... that would be bad marketing and a bad idea. I was referring to doctors that do not have office spirometers. Everyone has their own life experiences. Mine, with respect to running a corporate marketing organization, has been that removing barriers at reasonable costs to generate sales worked for me. Think that would be viewed as an illegal kick-back since the spirometer test could be performed & billed for other than afrezza. Thoughts? don't know the regs so can't answer with any certainty. but I can see a case being made that it is actually a win for patients, insurers and any other payors if the docs don't amortize the non-existent cost of the device into giving the test. only billing for the time to give the test and whatever other costs a practice would include, but not include cost of the spirometer since it was free. i recall there was a comment by someone that free samples are now frowned upon, so if true and by extrapolation maybe a free spirometer would also fall into that category. Thoughts by members that have relevant knowledge on subject would be educational. |
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Post by jpg on Feb 1, 2015 15:17:42 GMT -5
Like I answered someone else: I think many are putting too much emphasis on spirometers. Giving a free spirometer to patients would be at the very least bad marketing... jpg: Thanks for your feedback. I was not suggesting "free spirometers to patients"... that would be bad marketing and a bad idea. I was referring to doctors that do not have office spirometers. Everyone has their own life experiences. Mine, with respect to running a corporate marketing organization, has been that removing barriers at reasonable costs to generate sales worked for me. Sorry. I misread your post. Giving a free spirometer to MDs? Don't know if they really have to do that? Maybe I am not really in tune with PCP realities but to me a spirometry is so trivial to ask and get that it is almost a non event. It's easier then getting blood drawn and some patients like doing these tests because they get info as to their health (those I ask tend to be not so good news while those that will be asked for Afrezza will be mostly normal so good news). I would nevertheless defer to those with more American PCP experience. As for giving spirometers it could create more hassle then it's worth? I am certain that Sanofi will do the smart thing with the spirometry issue and will follow the path of least resistance on this and other issues. |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 17:45:32 GMT -5
Post by od on Feb 1, 2015 17:45:32 GMT -5
jpg: Thanks for your feedback. I was not suggesting "free spirometers to patients"... that would be bad marketing and a bad idea. I was referring to doctors that do not have office spirometers. Everyone has their own life experiences. Mine, with respect to running a corporate marketing organization, has been that removing barriers at reasonable costs to generate sales worked for me. Sorry. I misread your post. Giving a free spirometer to MDs? Don't know if they really have to do that? Maybe I am not really in tune with PCP realities but to me a spirometry is so trivial to ask and get that it is almost a non event. It's easier then getting blood drawn and some patients like doing these tests because they get info as to their health (those I ask tend to be not so good news while those that will be asked for Afrezza will be mostly normal so good news). I would nevertheless defer to those with more American PCP experience. As for giving spirometers it could create more hassle then it's worth? I am certain that Sanofi will do the smart thing with the spirometry issue and will follow the path of least resistance on this and other issues. Spirometers that give full results necessary for reimbursement generally cost north of $700.00. Regulations prohibit SNY from providing a practice with anything that has value above $100.00. SNY can 'loan' devices so practices can get comfortable with the very easily administered test. Spriometry is the standard of care for diagnosing COPD, the third leading cause of death in the United States. Spirometry is now also reimbursable when providers are complying with Afrezza's black box to rule out lung function issues. Reimbursement for spirometry exceeds the small capital investment and cost of disposables. |
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dean
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 17:56:05 GMT -5
Post by dean on Feb 1, 2015 17:56:05 GMT -5
Sorry. I misread your post. Giving a free spirometer to MDs? Don't know if they really have to do that? Maybe I am not really in tune with PCP realities but to me a spirometry is so trivial to ask and get that it is almost a non event. It's easier then getting blood drawn and some patients like doing these tests because they get info as to their health (those I ask tend to be not so good news while those that will be asked for Afrezza will be mostly normal so good news). I would nevertheless defer to those with more American PCP experience. As for giving spirometers it could create more hassle then it's worth? I am certain that Sanofi will do the smart thing with the spirometry issue and will follow the path of least resistance on this and other issues. Spirometers that give full results necessary for reimbursement generally cost north of $700.00. Regulations prohibit SNY from providing a practice with anything that has value above $100.00. SNY can 'loan' devices so practices can get comfortable with the very easily administered test. Spriometry is the standard of care for diagnosing COPD, the third leading cause of death in the United States. Spirometry is now also reimbursable when providers are complying with Afrezza's black box to rule out lung function issues. Reimbursement for spirometry exceeds the small capital investment and cost of disposables. Thank you od. Great explanation. |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 20:32:55 GMT -5
Post by mnholdem on Feb 1, 2015 20:32:55 GMT -5
Once primary care physicians realize how easy it is to train patients how to use Afrezza, and that they no longer need to send their clients to an Endo, they'll spring for a spirometer if they don't already have one at the clinic, don't you think?
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Post by liane on Feb 1, 2015 20:37:29 GMT -5
I think everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. Getting a spirometry test no more complicated than ordering labs or an X-ray. All of these are sometimes done in house, and sometimes at another facility. It just is not a big deal.
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 21:13:09 GMT -5
Post by gomnkd on Feb 1, 2015 21:13:09 GMT -5
Most PCP's can do spirometry test. If Afrezza takes off, PCP's that dont own one will acquire one. It is very cheap and in 10-12 tests, they can recoup the investment.
PCP's operate in a very competitive market. A patient can just walk away and go to one who can prescribe Afrezza. This is a non-issue
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 21:36:36 GMT -5
Post by od on Feb 1, 2015 21:36:36 GMT -5
I think everyone is making a mountain out of a molehill. Getting a spirometry test no more complicated than ordering labs or an X-ray. All of these are sometimes done in house, and sometimes at another facility. It just is not a big deal. No one has suggested that lack of spirometer penetration is anything but a marginal barrier to be overcome and everyone agrees that blowing into a tube is as easy as it gets. MNKD/SNY/shareholders want appropriate patients to receive their Afrezza perscription at their initial visit with the Endo or PCP - pharmaceutical marketing 101. With any black box product the less attention drawn to it the better and having to send a patient to another provider for a 'test' requires an explanation. If the test is executed at the initial visit, the patient is likely unaware of why it is being administered. We have all read that SNY is spending time explaining lung function test reimbursement to providers, so, no doubt, it is a concern. There is no way SNY is going to let any of Exubera's market acceptance issues get in the way of Afrezza. |
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Demand
Feb 1, 2015 21:38:43 GMT -5
Post by od on Feb 1, 2015 21:38:43 GMT -5
Most PCP's can do spirometry test. If Afrezza takes off, PCP's that dont own one will acquire one. It is very cheap and in 10-12 tests, they can recoup the investment. PCP's operate in a very competitive market. A patient can just walk away and go to one who can prescribe Afrezza. This is a non-issue Unfortunately, spirometer penetration in PCP's offices is about 40%. |
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