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Post by jerrys on Apr 4, 2016 22:41:59 GMT -5
Jerrys, During a discussion with Matt last October, I asked Matt, since the cost to manufacture Afrezza is less than $40 per box or so, ( he interrupted and said , depending on volume, it could be less than that ) why hasn't Sanofi lowered the price? He responded, That's what we would like to know? Also, do you really need evidence, that lowering the price of Afrezza to $150 per box, would have generated more insurance coverage and increased sales? Spiro here, listen, Afrezza is a drug, lower the price, get user's hooked on it, then gradually raise the price again in a year or so. "That's what we would like to know..." But why didn't he know? Wasn't that his responsibility as CFO? Did he ever ask SNY why they didn't lower the price?
"Also, do you really need evidence..." I need evidence that it would have made a significant difference. I recall finding a variety of coupons that lowered the price up to 75%. Plus, SNY had its own "patient assistance program" and "Afrezza Savings Card" as well that ostensibly could lower the price to zero, yet the drug still managed only 10 million in revenue for a year. While price is certainly an obstacle, I don't believe simply lowering it will do much in and of itself. The main problems lie in the indifference of diabetics and endos to inhaled insulin, competition from the BPs, the necessity of spirometry, and the concerns raised by the black box. I think those have to be addressed before MNKD can achieve any kind of market penetration with afrezza.
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Post by cretin11 on Apr 4, 2016 23:10:58 GMT -5
jerrys if you listened to the various conference calls you'd know it's not a secret that MNKD and SNY disagreed on how to price it. SNY had the final say however, no matter how much objecting MNKD did in the joint committee meetings (which we do not know). You do have a point that it's unknown how much of a difference lowering the price will make. I think we'll find out.
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Post by patten1962 on Apr 4, 2016 23:24:31 GMT -5
Bearcat, that's a tough question to answer, because IMO, there are quite a few factors that can be attributed to Afrezza's slow sales start. IMO the biggest factor was a total marketing failure by Sanofi. How can a new diabetes insulin be successful when most diabetics to this day, don't even know that it exists? Then, Sanofi's refusal to drop the price of Afrezza, after most insurance companies refused to start coverage on the drug. Sanofi, obviously knew by last April, that a price drop was necessary, so why the refusal? it is Spiro's opinion that MNKD even with limited resources will be able to prove within 4 -6 month's that Sanofi was incompetent in their handling of Afrezza sales and marketing. It is most likely that Sanofi will try their best to make some sort of settlement with MNKD before the world finds out about what a game changing drug Afrezza could be. Now, let Spiro put some blame on two more groups. First, our stubborn doctors who have become very regimented in their treatment techniques for diabetes and are unwilling to change course, even if their results are inadequate. How many times do we hear about an A1c of 8.5 and nothing is changed by the doctor? Second, let's put some blame on Diabetics, if they even know they are diabetic. Too many diabetics are unwilling to be proactive and get involved in their diabetes treatment with their doctor. Aggressive advertising will find proactive diabetics. Sanofi didn't even try to find them. Diabetes is a nasty disease, it can take away your eyesight, you toes, kill your pancreas and basically destroy your life. I could list a lot more more, but I'm done for now. Spiro here, I'm going to eat a couple of peeps and then puff 4 units. Damn, how does Liane know everything? Great post. Just to add one thing. As a healthcare professional I asked close to 100 physicians and only ONE of them even heard of Afrezza! I have a few physicians researching the medication. Unfortunately the Sanofi Drug Reps can't be found. Hopefully Mannkind reps will be able to reach out to them.
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alexer
Lab Rat
Posts: 49
Sentiment: Long
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Post by alexer on Apr 4, 2016 23:53:04 GMT -5
www.afrezza.com no longer mentions Sanofi as marketing partner, that's a good start!
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Post by yash on Apr 5, 2016 0:04:38 GMT -5
I still see SNY logo on top right hand corner.
Also, see the 5th and 6th line from the bottom.
Can you upload the screenshot?
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Post by mpg54 on Apr 5, 2016 2:15:02 GMT -5
Your page is probably cached ...
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Post by sweedee79 on Apr 5, 2016 3:45:33 GMT -5
Far too easy. If you are right then MNKD should be beating off the offers from those smarter than the ex CEO of Sanofi. Excuse me if I am missing that line. Look - I believed and was wrong. Money talks - and I do not like what it is saying. To ignore the voice of money to me is foolish. You keep saying ... '"money talks"... like that is the only factor to consider here.. I know first hand and for a fact that Afrezza is the best insulin out there for my dad..that he lost lots of weight on it... had no hypos... drop in blood pressure...and felt so much better.... I know for a fact that Afrezza is everything that Al Mann said it would be.. I know for a fact that SNY did not educate docs... pursue a study to get the label changed .... nor did they do much advertising to speak of.... Yes money does talk... it speaks to the big shorts who are greedy and continually use the situation and manipulate the stock... oh don't worry.... people have made a lot of money off of Afrezza ... so money and greed are speaking clearly IMO .. there is more than one way to make money... and it doesn't always involve integrity... nor does it involve the concern for patients who would benefit .. Just look at the flat out lies that have been written by people like AF .. Nobody knows what has all transpired here, but clearly something has or we wouldn't be in this situation... and I cannot..... CANNOT believe it is as simplistic as "money talks" ... just don't know how else to say it ...
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Post by liane on Apr 5, 2016 4:38:02 GMT -5
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Post by therealisaching on Apr 5, 2016 5:13:46 GMT -5
Mike castagna tweeted the following at 12:44 this am:
Today is a very special day and one that will become the first step of a new paradigm! #freedom
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Post by peppy on Apr 5, 2016 5:28:02 GMT -5
Mike castagna tweeted the following at 12:44 this am: Today is a very special day and one that will become the first step of a new paradigm! #freedom the Christmas music has changed Stephen Stills www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXXTJgyMA_g 49 Bye-Byes / America's Children (Live)
a blast from the past. the 70's were tough, the US dollar still on the gold standard, and Europe country by country had been requesting their gold back. fort knox was emptied.
screencast.com/t/MKpIlv432a
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Post by peppy on Apr 5, 2016 6:05:50 GMT -5
Jerrys, During a discussion with Matt last October, I asked Matt, since the cost to manufacture Afrezza is less than $40 per box or so, ( he interrupted and said , depending on volume, it could be less than that ) why hasn't Sanofi lowered the price? He responded, That's what we would like to know? Also, do you really need evidence, that lowering the price of Afrezza to $150 per box, would have generated more insurance coverage and increased sales? Spiro here, listen, Afrezza is a drug, lower the price, get user's hooked on it, then gradually raise the price again in a year or so.
$40 per box or so, ( he interrupted and said , depending on volume, it could be less than that ) Thank you. Straight on question. fine work. I calculated sanofi was charging 9 to 11 dollars a day. fast acting subq 3.19 a day.
a vial of apidra @ 125 bucks by memory, although 3.19 a day is $96 no wonder matt said an abundance of riches when filling sanofi samples.
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Post by bearcatbob on Apr 5, 2016 7:02:38 GMT -5
One of my hopes was that successful users would share their stories with other diabetics and usage would grow by simply multiplying success. Has your dad shared his story with anyone who has followed his lead?
Spiro - how has your circle of friends grown?
Bob
PS: Hoping for some good news today.
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Post by peppy on Apr 5, 2016 7:23:19 GMT -5
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Post by bradleysbest on Apr 5, 2016 8:15:11 GMT -5
Nope not xmas..... More like Thanksgiving!
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Post by ashiwi on Apr 5, 2016 8:49:23 GMT -5
Just as I expected, a lump of coal in the MNKD stocking.
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