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Post by peppy on Jan 8, 2016 7:22:46 GMT -5
Make it cheap enough and the insurance/payers will make them use afrezza $50 per box if no insurance and if insurance - tier 2 with no co pay . And insurance companies will do all the work for Mannkind There is no guarantee that lower pricing will move insurance to cover Afrezza. And let's say it does, the other issue is getting Doctors comfortable enough to prescribe it. Many on here seem to think the solution is very simple. It's not. Mannkind needs to find someone to pick up the marketing and sales. Insurance and docs acceptance won't matter if a competent partner to market and sell isn't found. When physicians see better HgA1c's and happier patients, they will prescribe Afrezza. Physicians like having their patients do well. A matter of pride.
The demand (patient demand) is here right under our nose. screencast.com/t/C0gGdH0H
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Post by thoth on Jan 8, 2016 10:38:29 GMT -5
Make it cheap enough and the insurance/payers will make them use afrezza $50 per box if no insurance and if insurance - tier 2 with no co pay . And insurance companies will do all the work for Mannkind There is no guarantee that lower pricing will move insurance to cover Afrezza. And let's say it does, the other issue is getting Doctors comfortable enough to prescribe it. Many on here seem to think the solution is very simple. It's not. Mannkind needs to find someone to pick up the marketing and sales. Insurance and docs acceptance won't matter if a competent partner to market and sell isn't found. It's not that pricing is a panacea that will solve everything, but rather that it doesn't make sense to price it at a level where it's an actual problem. Let's put it this way: there are at least 3 main factors for Afrezza to achieve commercial success: 1. Consumer interest 2. Doctor acceptance 3. Insurance acceptance A non-competitive price causes problems with all 3 of these - why make it harder when there's no clear reason to do so? Trying to price higher makes zero sense, in my mind. I'm not in favor of a price war or trying to price it ultra low, but it needs to be within the ballpark and competitive against the RAAs. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2016 11:09:08 GMT -5
There is no guarantee that lower pricing will move insurance to cover Afrezza. And let's say it does, the other issue is getting Doctors comfortable enough to prescribe it. Many on here seem to think the solution is very simple. It's not. Mannkind needs to find someone to pick up the marketing and sales. Insurance and docs acceptance won't matter if a competent partner to market and sell isn't found. It's not that pricing is a panacea that will solve everything, but rather that it doesn't make sense to price it at a level where it's an actual problem. Let's put it this way: there are at least 3 main factors for Afrezza to achieve commercial success: 1. Consumer interest 2. Doctor acceptance 3. Insurance acceptance A non-competitive price causes problems with all 3 of these - why make it harder when there's no clear reason to do so? Trying to price higher makes zero sense, in my mind. I'm not in favor of a price war or trying to price it ultra low, but it needs to be within the ballpark and competitive against the RAAs. i am sure you all know that $50 is something I put out.. I would say 10% less than injectables so who ever wants Afrezza atleast done have insurance issues - one obstacle removed. I read a lot of posts where insurance was issue. ALso insurance would send out letters to patients that cheaper options are available - Afrezza --> cheap publicity @ not cost |
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Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 8, 2016 11:51:43 GMT -5
I see two issues there. First, practically all of the posts are from the same people who have been posting there about afrezza since it was introduced. Since that is a very active forum with many participants, the overall lack of concern over afrezza's possible disappearance is forboding. There simply appears to be a general lack of interest by diabetics in an inhaled insulin. Second, from what "newbies" there were came comments such as:
1. Asked doc about afrezza and, "She was supportive but I've had decent results lately and was like "meh, why change anything" as it would require appointments and all of that."
2. "I truly believe that it would be difficult to convince insurance that I have a real need for it. My A1c's are good and due to my CGM, I have had no recent lows that need assistance...But right now my insurance pays for a pump and supplies, Lantus when needed, a meter and strips, and a CGM and supplies. Unfortunately they are not set up to deal whereby I could promise to quit my pump if Afrezza worked well...Also, I am a year and 3 months away from Medicare. I am saving my T1 Medicare advocacy for CGM coverage and will leave the Afrezza battle to the rest of you."
3. "It's mostly having to get the lung test done and then go back for another appointment. And they offered to squeeze the test into an appointment but the problem was mostly me. I have may weird insulin habits pregaming,temp boluses,IV shots, etc. that I don't have a huge need for something that works really fast to eat whatever."
People complain about SNY's handling of afrezza's promotion, but these are probably typical of the problems encountered. They are not easy problems to solve.
I'd add that I doubt the Afrezza advocates nor the participants on that forum in general represent the "bulk" of the diabetes patient population. Among the wider population there might be more resistance to needles (if not from fear of needles, perhaps from lack of wanting to accept the severity of their situation), but there likely is also far less mind share given to trying to find an optimal treatment. Should MNKD focus on the rather small patient population wanting really tight control (many of whom seem to be T1) or try to find a route in the short term for the broader patient population? |
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Post by scottiemac on Jan 8, 2016 13:19:35 GMT -5
I don't suppose that seeing as it's human insulin it could be simply sold OTC like so many formerly prescribed medications are now? Can one OD on Afrezza? Not trying to be funny but I am a new T2 diabetic on Metformin, no Afrezza or injectable insulin as yet. Someone with more insight (and science) comment? |
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Post by stevil on Jan 8, 2016 13:35:51 GMT -5
It's highly unlikely that insulin will ever be available over the counter for a couple reasons (probably amongst many others):
The insulin/glucagon pathway affects so many metabolic processes- much different than taking a pain reliever for pain or cold medicine for cough. While they still affect other metabolic pathways, the impact they could have is much, much smaller.
The dosing needs to be controlled and monitored. PWD usually change their dosage over time, and it's ill-advised to do that independent of a physician.
As is pertains to Afrezza, while insulin has been on the market for over 100 years, you'll never see a branded drug go OTC before a generic is available not only from a pricing perspective (so much more money to be made behind the counter. Again, in regards to Afrezza, PWD are insulin-dependent. There is no benefit to lowering price that low when demand is 100% in your favor) but also because it takes years of showing safety and efficacy before the FDA will allow the general public to play doctor on their own. There has to be significant data to suggest that the medication is safe. This won't happen for many, many years for a new drug as the data takes a long time to get collected and charted.
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Post by compound26 on Jan 8, 2016 14:06:05 GMT -5
Latest comment: www.tudiabetes.org/forum/t/sanofi-ending-its-afrezza-partnership-with-mannkind/50253/70?u=charles5Hi Sam19. This is my first post although I've been reading this forum for quite a while. I REALLY appreciate your posts. I am a significantly insulin resistant Type 2 and have been using Afrezza since last July. It is the ONLY mealtime insulin I have ever used that has worked for me. It is a superior, fantastically effective prandial insulin. I am PRAYING that Afrezza survives even if MNKD the company fails. MNKD the Company is in great danger of bankruptcy. Again, I PRAY its insulin survives no matter what happens to MNKD. About the only you ever said that I disagree with is about insurance coverage. Very, very few plans cover Afrezza in an affordable, accessible way. Personally, I have little money, almost "poor". After my mortgage payment and the cost of food and groceries, just one box per month of Afrezza at $300.99 is my biggest expense. Entirely out of pocket for me. Two years ago I got my insurance via Obamacare, a godsend for me. I only had three or choices of insurance companies and NONE of them covere Afrezza at all. Not on the formulary of any of them. Last year my income dropped and I was forced into State Medicaid. My doctor submitted an application for me but it was denied since Humalog was cheaper. Injected prandial insulin does not work for me, too slow (several hours). Although I have little money, I am still spending $300 per month because I realize I am talking about my very life!!!! In my eyes Afrezza is my most important expense.
Sadly I really need at least two boxes of Afrezza per month but that is out of the question for me financially. I am two years away from Medicare and hoping it will be covered by then...... but I doubt it will be. I try to make do by eating as low carb as I can possibly stand. MNKD could quintuple its volume of scripts sold by cutting the price in half. They need to do that. Please keep up your good work of helping to educate diabetics about Afrezza. I believe for all you Type 1's it really is almost miraculous. And even for us highly insulin resistant Type 2's, it is an extremely effective mealtime insulin. I appeal to all diabetics to consider trying it and doing what they can to help ensure the survival of this fantastic insulin. It IS life changing and will be a crime if it is shelved by corrupted, big money financial interests. |
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