|
Post by kc on Jan 5, 2017 16:48:14 GMT -5
The current pricing is a MAJOR hurdle and it's preventing partnerships from materializing. Especially international markets, which tend to price drugs lower than the US.
I don't know the Cost of Goods sold but if you never sell any product than you have an even bigger problem. MannKind needs to address how to lower the Cost of goods sold. Maybe very deeply discounted to Medicare and Medicaid channels, Tri-Care. I would hate to see it priced down close to Generic product but you have to get the product in the hands of users and they would be more willing to try it if the co-pay or out of pocket was reduced. Now granted that does not help the company or shareholders but it does get attention and utilization up.
|
|
|
Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 5, 2017 16:52:07 GMT -5
The current pricing is a MAJOR hurdle and it's preventing partnerships from materializing. Especially international markets, which tend to price drugs lower than the US. I don't think MNKD has said anything about the pricing they would be willing to offer internationally. All drug manufacturers (or at least all I know of) strike deals with far lower profit margins outside the U.S. Do you have some concrete info that pricing has been a constraint in attracting an international partner... or is that merely speculation that MNKD is trying to get U.S. prices elses?
|
|
|
Post by cedafuntennis on Jan 5, 2017 16:58:15 GMT -5
No. Clarity is not in MNKD's MO.
|
|
|
Post by dictatorsaurus on Jan 5, 2017 16:58:57 GMT -5
Yes I do. Unfortunately that's as much as I can say. Sorry to throw a comment out there and not elaborate. But let me just say the pricing is a big issue.
|
|
|
Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 5, 2017 17:04:01 GMT -5
Yes I do. Unfortunately that's as much as I can say. Sorry to throw a comment out there and not elaborate. But let me just say the pricing is a big issue. And is the problem cost of manufacturing? Is it that we can't absorb losses prior to ramping manufacturing or is Afrezza simply disadvantaged for COGS even at scale? If true, your statement is revealing something I was totally unaware of.
|
|
|
Post by esstan2001 on Jan 5, 2017 17:48:37 GMT -5
This is great news. A proven track record and loads of experience can only help this product get out to the field. In my opinion however, the approach has been flawed since inception. The product needs to be marketed to the END USER...not the physicians. The end user who injects several times daily needs to be made aware of this excellent convenient alternative to their diabetes related medical needs. Who would prefer injections over an inhaler? Physicians generally are very busy and the last thing they are motivated to do is to suggest an alternative solution for the patient which may require pulmonary testing, dose determinations and closer monitoring of the patient during the transition period. Of course, this recommendation on their part also includes a bit of risk. This is not to say physicians do not have their patients best interest in mind, but more so, they take the path of least resistance and effort...steady as she goes with the current treatment...unless the PATIENT inquires about Afrezza. Once the PATIENT hears about a diabetes treatment as simple as using an inhaler, then the physician will respond, and the trials will begin, and the prescriptions will start flying off the shelves. Lets see some prime time television advertising and satellite radio ads promoting this excellent product. Market to the END USER...they are the ones who really matter.
As we know, MannKind's strategy is first to create endo and PCP fluency with Afrezza. Then when patient demand is generated by advertising, it is met with a knowledgable response by doctors, thus making much more likely a successful adoption of the product -- also largely avoiding the negative result of creating a curiosity about Afrezza that is simply not reciprocated by an uninformed medical community. But for my money (literally!), it now seems well past time when a national advertising campaign should be launched, to expand dramatically the conversation among diabetics, their families, and doctors about Afrezza's unique efficacy, a conversation that should rapidly translate into wide and successful demand for product. And here's a suggested headline for new copy: "AFREZZA, THE INSPIRED INSULIN!" So, now that we've had some local news stories, a good preamble to targeted / national market DTC advertising would be seeing our key advocate users hitting the major health / medical talk show circuits... Dr Oz, Dr. Keith Ablow, Dr. Who[mever], Phil Donahue, Ricki Lake, Sally Jesse, Larry King, Arsenio Hall, Tyra, Morton Downey Jr, Dick Cavett, David Susskind, Oprah (ehh, she isn't even on anymore- what the hell do I know) Guess that's why I'm still invested here :-)
|
|
|
Post by dictatorsaurus on Jan 5, 2017 17:52:49 GMT -5
Yes I do. Unfortunately that's as much as I can say. Sorry to throw a comment out there and not elaborate. But let me just say the pricing is a big issue. And is the problem cost of manufacturing? Is it that we can't absorb losses prior to ramping manufacturing or is Afrezza simply disadvantaged for COGS even at scale? If true, your statement is revealing something I was totally unaware of. I really don't have any info on manufacturing costs. Issue is product is not selling. 300 scripts a week is the same as 0 scripts a week when you speak business standards. The price needs to be dropped regardless to get the drug out there.
|
|
|
Post by mikesmilitaria on Jan 5, 2017 18:26:49 GMT -5
MNKD is keeping Afrezza on life support which = no advertising, limited market penetration efforts and no high level publications. They want very little attention to Afrezza keeping the pps stagnated (where they want it)until the swamp is drained of all alligators and their ultimate plan of action is achieved with their alliances. Then and only then will the flood gates be opened and the aggressive marketing/sales push takes place.
|
|
|
Post by brotherm1 on Jan 5, 2017 18:32:19 GMT -5
I agree
|
|
|
Post by sayhey24 on Jan 5, 2017 18:46:04 GMT -5
The current pricing is a MAJOR hurdle and it's preventing partnerships from materializing. Especially international markets, which tend to price drugs lower than the US. OK, so if you were setting the target price what would it be for a 90 cartridge box and how many scripts would that generate after a year?
|
|
|
Post by dreamboatcruise on Jan 5, 2017 20:46:45 GMT -5
MNKD is keeping Afrezza on life support which = no advertising, limited market penetration efforts and no high level publications. They want very little attention to Afrezza keeping the pps stagnated (where they want it)until the swamp is drained of all alligators and their ultimate plan of action is achieved with their alliances. Then and only then will the flood gates be opened and the aggressive marketing/sales push takes place. Hopefully management is not engaged in this sort of illegal activity. I do not believe they would do this. I have been burned twice in my long investing career by management that almost seemed to be trying to tank share price and then lo and behold there was a management buyout at the depressed price. Again... I do not at all believe MNKD management would be involved in any sort of shady dealings like that.
|
|
|
Post by agedhippie on Jan 6, 2017 7:29:39 GMT -5
This is great news. A proven track record and loads of experience can only help this product get out to the field. In my opinion however, the approach has been flawed since inception. The product needs to be marketed to the END USER...not the physicians. The end user who injects several times daily needs to be made aware of this excellent convenient alternative to their diabetes related medical needs. Who would prefer injections over an inhaler? Hate to say this but as a diabetic who injects several times a day and hos done for years - inhaling is not a key selling point. Injections are quick, easy, and don't hurt so why is inhaling animprovement? You will have much more luck if you can show how it improves control and treatment but that is awkward with the current label.
|
|