Matt does NOT Mince Words

[mbseeking]

In my humble opinion, this next launch MNKD should target at least 2 other countries in parallel with the US. It's not clear that any strategy can overcome the barriers presented by the payers in the US. Whilst Matt cited the legitimate lever of pricing in the call today , that MNKD can play with , we dont know what exclusivity deals have been signed by other pharmas on their products. Pricing alone will not overcome these. They will only be bypassed by payer embarrassment from superiority trials - alas , which MNKD itself cannot afford.

So a flanking strategy is needed.

What is clear that , for the patients who can find the money, they love it. By targeting a few countries where patients generally fund their own drugs more than the US will help establish the momentum and credibility beachhead MNKD so desperately needs , but cant afford to buy via a superiority study.  It will also then magnify the focus on teh US payer response and challenge them and their assumptions on Afrezza.

[silentknight]

I think Matt and MNKD have it right. The issue now is cost.  If you price it competitively with insulin pens and existing products that are currently covered, insurance formularies will cover it, just like they do almost every other drug on the market.

If a company can pay the same amount of money for Afrezza that they can for any other prandial, and a patient wants Afrezza, then why would the company care which product they buy if it's prescribed?  Their cost is the same and the customer (patient) is happy.  They are worried about their bottom like just like everyone else.  If a product costs more, they are less likely to pay, which is another way Sanofi's marketing strategy was a complete and utter disaster.  Pricing it so high guaranteed that it wouldn't sell which was all by design. 

If MNKD can make it more accessible, and patients continue to post good results, you'll see script growth.  I like what I'm hearing from them so far. I want to see definitive action now and not just words. Determine what the problem is and attack it.  We've seen neither talk nor action from them since the dreaded day they signed the partnership.  Now we need more of both.