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Post by 4Balance on Jul 14, 2015 20:53:33 GMT -5
I had not seen my mother's endo for quite some time (last Fall?), so during today's appointment I asked the man if he'd prescribed Afrezza yet. He said he had...only a couple of patients. He said, it's certainly "better" than Exubera...and by that, he seemed to be referring mostly to the bong. He knows it's monomeric insulin, but I had the sense he has yet to see dramatic results...too soon, too few patients.
He also commented that there are a number of new diabetes drugs on the market or on the way...as if he were simply lumping Afrezza into a "new drug" category.
He knows Metformin is hard on organs...but I'm not seeing him as ready to prescribe Afrezza earlier in the over-all process.
I mentioned that there's a T1 early adopter who has said it's almost as if he's no longer diabetic...that got the endo's attention a bit.
I don't think he has a spirometer in the office, but there's a pulmonary group a floor or two above his practice, so he could be referring his patients to that provider.
Maybe I planted some seeds...
--4Balance
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Post by notamnkdmillionaire on Jul 14, 2015 22:32:46 GMT -5
Endos will have to have that epiphany moment when they see their first few patients success using it, at least that is what I am hoping for.
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Post by kc on Jul 14, 2015 22:50:23 GMT -5
I bet he was over 55 years of age.
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Post by saxcmann on Jul 15, 2015 9:17:55 GMT -5
I have worked with a lot of doctors in a business context, and they are among the smartest people you will ever encounter, sell assured, and strong egos. They make up their own minds independently and you don't just tell a doctor what to do. They are opinionated and stubborn and they will do what it takes to learn about Afrezza at their own speed. There are other insulin products competing for their attention and SNY has to just keep hammering away to get their message across. If the drug is as good as we think, and benefits those we think, this will take time to get into the mind of the doctors.
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Post by rak5555 on Jul 15, 2015 10:00:51 GMT -5
........ and they are among the smartest people you will ever encounter, sell assured, and strong egos. They make up their own minds independently and you don't just tell a doctor what to do. They are opinionated and stubborn and they will do what it takes to learn about Afrezza at their own speed....... Interesting. Now I am wondering if I married a doctor. |
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Post by dreamboatcruise on Jul 15, 2015 10:10:37 GMT -5
I would think some of the issue is that doctors (any scientist) is trained to be skeptical of the anecdotal. I'm not saying they do it perfectly, as great results from one of their own patients would probably have them feeling geniuses for having prescribed Afrezza, but when hearing about a few early adopters elsewhere they probably have their skeptical filter on initially. Hopefully long before official trials to improve label, we will get some articles from doctors with enough of a patient population to be statistically meaningful to start to validate the notion of driving down A1c with acceptable hypo risk better than RAA.
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Post by spiro on Jul 15, 2015 10:13:28 GMT -5
Holy Toledo, This could mean that Mrs. Spiro is a doctor too, Spiro hopes she is not an Endo.
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Post by bradleysbest on Jul 15, 2015 10:39:10 GMT -5
If she is a doctor she better have a spirometer!
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Post by jimbering on Jul 15, 2015 11:03:18 GMT -5
I live in Seattle too and talked to an endo in early June. He had not prescribed Afrezza even though he knew about it and also knew about and respected Al Mann. He said the reason was that he was old and stuck in his ways. That is a common problem with change in any profession. Not just with older people but with all of them. People get used to doing something one way. Change is work. It is much easier to just keep doing what you have been doing. This is going to take time, that's all there is to it. The change will have to come from patient demand. Then the doctors will change too. DTC ads are the key once the insurance companies get inline. DTC ads are a waste of money and probably even a negative until Afrezza is a tier 2 drug on most companies formularies.
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Post by liane on Jul 15, 2015 11:14:26 GMT -5
I bet he was over 55 years of age. I resemble that remark!  |
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Post by 4Balance on Jul 15, 2015 13:23:54 GMT -5
Endos will have to have that epiphany moment when they see their first few patients success using it, at least that is what I am hoping for. I agree. I'm thankful that he's has the personal risk profile that allows him to be an early adopter. He DID react when I mentioned the T1 who feels almost like he's not diabetic...a QoL matter not to sniff at. |
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Post by 4Balance on Jul 15, 2015 13:25:44 GMT -5
I bet he was over 55 years of age. Probably pretty close to 55. There aren't many endo's in my area...I'd really like to see him on board. We won't be visiting with him again until January. |
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Post by robsacher on Jul 15, 2015 18:57:29 GMT -5
This discussion only reaffirms my belief that Sanofi should invest in the idea of creating Afrezza Clinics. There's nothing like seeing your customers go next store in order to encourage your change in an outdated mode of operation.
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Post by 4Balance on Jul 15, 2015 19:06:34 GMT -5
In re-reading my original comment I realized that I had failed to make one point--he had practically a knee-jerk reaction, comparing Afrezza with Exubera. The oral delivery mechanism was key to him...not the physiological differences.
He was aware it is monomeric and enters the blood stream quickly...probably knew it left quickly. But I think what will impress him...if he hears of it...is the impact on A1c. After all, that's still the endo's gold standard for evaluating efficacy.
Dramatic improvements in Quality of Life will probably impress him too...if he hears about them.
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Post by daduke38 on Jul 16, 2015 5:18:22 GMT -5
........ and they are among the smartest people you will ever encounter, sell assured, and strong egos. They make up their own minds independently and you don't just tell a doctor what to do. They are opinionated and stubborn and they will do what it takes to learn about Afrezza at their own speed....... Interesting. Now I am wondering if I married a doctor. And you have me wondering if we are brother in laws........ That was a hilarious response, but there goes our Political Correctness  . Just teasing ladies! |
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. Just teasing ladies!