Demand

[fldave007]

Mannkind management needs to quit modeling themselves after giant pharma and do things differently.  They are making things too difficult the way to create demand for Afrezza is to advertise to consumers.  The lazy ass endo's will not drive sales but patients demanding Afrezza will.  If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson. Show them the difference it could make in their life and health both now and down the road and they might be glad to praise it. Sure it seems like things can't be that simple but guess what it can.  Who really in their right mind would prefer shots or sticks if you can just inhale? Advertising could be videos on You Tube. Picture this Sam Fuld of the Oakland A's standing in the batters box calls time and pulls out dreamboat and inhales steps back into the batters box and smacks a homer.  Use you imagination surely we can do better than we are now and the sales force needs a boost and the only way we can do this is advertising.  Get that 30 million loan that is available and create demand advertise.  I put most of my savings into this and have been in for 7 years now because I believe in the product and yes I'm down a ton but I'm still not out.  Please management think outside the box and do things differently.  fldave

[mnkdfann]

Feb 14, 2017 19:24:32 GMT -5 fldave007 said:

If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson.

Perhaps they did, and that is how we got Damon Dash?

[sportsrancho]

Feb 14, 2017 19:27:43 GMT -5 mnkdfann said:

Feb 14, 2017 19:24:32 GMT -5 fldave007 said:

If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson.

Perhaps they did, and that is how we got Damon Dash?

The way to create demand for Afrezza is to advertise to consumers. The lazy ass endo's will not drive sales.



Yes:-) Dash didn't just appear out of no where.
Agree the Endo's are not going to fix this. It will take years before they wake-up or care. IMO

[gamblerjag]

ouch.. 

[surplusvalue]

Feb 14, 2017 19:24:32 GMT -5 fldave007 said:

Mannkind management needs to quit modeling themselves after giant pharma and do things differently.  They are making things too difficult the way to create demand for Afrezza is to advertise to consumers.  The lazy ass endo's will not drive sales but patients demanding Afrezza will.  If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson. Show them the difference it could make in their life and health both now and down the road and they might be glad to praise it. Sure it seems like things can't be that simple but guess what it can.  Who really in their right mind would prefer shots or sticks if you can just inhale? Advertising could be videos on You Tube. Picture this Sam Fuld of the Oakland A's standing in the batters box calls time and pulls out dreamboat and inhales steps back into the batters box and smacks a homer.  Use you imagination surely we can do better than we are now and the sales force needs a boost and the only way we can do this is advertising.  Get that 30 million loan that is available and create demand advertise.  I put most of my savings into this and have been in for 7 years now because I believe in the product and yes I'm down a ton but I'm still not out.  Please management think outside the box and do things differently.  fldave

They are; they're not selling. They sure are spending though..10-12M a month.

Back when Sanofi was in control and halfway through I was posting on the YMB repeatedly calling for advertising. I indicated that educating the doctors 
was not going to do much and that it had to be timed properly with advertising to push from both sides. Doctors are way too conservative in general;part of their training.
I stated that if the advertising wasnt timed properly there would be a significant lag in momentum and probably stagnation in sales.
I cant remember how many times I repeated the same thing here as did many others in remarking about the need for building mass awareness.

Now to be fair MNKD has had alot of impediments they have had to work out (spirometry, titration , coverage etc. ) Remember all the way back when Hakan went to France and came back with the excuse that spirometry was holding back acceptance and sales? 
However, these are all problems that MNKD seems to have not been aware of until they had to figure out what was causing poor sales and lack of retention. They should have been aware of all these problems from the beginning. Seems shareholders have been paying dearly for MNKD's steep learning curve despite the large executive salaries and compensation. 

I hope they succeed but it appears that alot of very bad management decisions have limited their abilities and put a very large limitation on any funds for advertising. 

[sayhey24]

Feb 14, 2017 19:24:32 GMT -5 fldave007 said:

Mannkind management needs to quit modeling themselves after giant pharma and do things differently.  They are making things too difficult the way to create demand for Afrezza is to advertise to consumers.  The lazy ass endo's will not drive sales but patients demanding Afrezza will.  If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson. Show them the difference it could make in their life and health both now and down the road and they might be glad to praise it. Sure it seems like things can't be that simple but guess what it can.  Who really in their right mind would prefer shots or sticks if you can just inhale? Advertising could be videos on You Tube. Picture this Sam Fuld of the Oakland A's standing in the batters box calls time and pulls out dreamboat and inhales steps back into the batters box and smacks a homer.  Use you imagination surely we can do better than we are now and the sales force needs a boost and the only way we can do this is advertising.  Get that 30 million loan that is available and create demand advertise.  I put most of my savings into this and have been in for 7 years now because I believe in the product and yes I'm down a ton but I'm still not out.  Please management think outside the box and do things differently.  fldave

Here is my latest favorite video containing Steve Edelman which was recently published youtu.be/Xtg1ESeqAQw?t=3  Steve is the founder of TCoYD, is one of the most respected Endos in the business and TCoYD was hired to develop the protocol for Onduo.  IMO, Ondou has the ability to transform diabetic care.  Whether afrezza is part of that protocol is not yet public but it sure seems Steve who is also a T1 is talking more positively than ever about afrezza.  He is also using afrezza himself which can be seen from the video.  I am not sure any one else would be better than Steve Edelman to talk to the endos about afrezza.  Here are a few more videos www.afrezzajustbreathe.com/videos-of-afrezza-users/  Its hard to believe MNKD management is as inept as they have appeared.  I am still holding out hope that lots of things are in the oven and are baking. Then again I just may be crazy or so I have been told.  I do fully agree with you about picking up the phone.  Maybe a couple of these new sales guys have phones. It would be nice.

[careful2invest]

Feb 14, 2017 20:51:25 GMT -5 surplusvalue said:

Feb 14, 2017 19:24:32 GMT -5 fldave007 said:

Mannkind management needs to quit modeling themselves after giant pharma and do things differently.  They are making things too difficult the way to create demand for Afrezza is to advertise to consumers.  The lazy ass endo's will not drive sales but patients demanding Afrezza will.  If I were Mnkd management I would be on the phone to Tom Hanks, Paula Deen, Jay Cutler, Hallie Berry et all begging until I got a spokesperson. Show them the difference it could make in their life and health both now and down the road and they might be glad to praise it. Sure it seems like things can't be that simple but guess what it can.  Who really in their right mind would prefer shots or sticks if you can just inhale? Advertising could be videos on You Tube. Picture this Sam Fuld of the Oakland A's standing in the batters box calls time and pulls out dreamboat and inhales steps back into the batters box and smacks a homer.  Use you imagination surely we can do better than we are now and the sales force needs a boost and the only way we can do this is advertising.  Get that 30 million loan that is available and create demand advertise.  I put most of my savings into this and have been in for 7 years now because I believe in the product and yes I'm down a ton but I'm still not out.  Please management think outside the box and do things differently.  fldave

They are; they're not selling. They sure are spending though..10-12M a month.

Back when Sanofi was in control and halfway through I was posting on the YMB repeatedly calling for advertising. I indicated that educating the doctors 
was not going to do much and that it had to be timed properly with advertising to push from both sides. Doctors are way too conservative in general;part of their training.
I stated that if the advertising wasnt timed properly there would be a significant lag in momentum and probably stagnation in sales.
I cant remember how many times I repeated the same thing here as did many others in remarking about the need for building mass awareness.

Now to be fair MNKD has had alot of impediments they have had to work out (spirometry, titration , coverage etc. ) Remember all the way back when Hakan went to France and came back with the excuse that spirometry was holding back acceptance and sales? 
However, these are all problems that MNKD seems to have not been aware of until they had to figure out what was causing poor sales and lack of retention. They should have been aware of all these problems from the beginning. Seems shareholders have been paying dearly for MNKD's steep learning curve despite the large executive salaries and compensation. 

I hope they succeed but it appears that alot of very bad management decisions have limited their abilities and put a very large limitation on any funds for advertising. 

Many mistakes were made, that is in the past, cannot change that, but things are finally in place for success.
The "time in range" trials being conducted now is huge! I was so happy to read that!
AFREZZA shines in that capacity!

Many of us have been asking for advertising for a very long time. But in hindsight, maybe it was best that they
did not advertise early and here is why...

Think if MNKD would have advertised in the beginning with Sanofi, taking into account spirometry, titration and insurance coverage.
None of that was in place or dialed in.
Doctors and Patients would have been confused and (at that time) neither MNKD or Sanofi knew enough or had the resources available to address these issues with the amount of volume that they would have probably been coming in, Due to advertising.
It could have been a disaster!
No doubt, the past three years or so has been no picnic, and the pps is suffering, but I feel like the ship is finally being righted!

MNKD learned alot in that time (with Sanofi) and thankfully, due to MNKD's efforts, they have addressed these issues and between MNKD, VDEX, JDRF, etc., a new patient can receive superior direction to adjust to using AFREZZA.
The timing for advertising is now!
GLTA TRUE LONGS!
 

[Deleted]

Every diabetic that a friend and I convinced to request Afrezza was turned down by the doctor; if doctors are not on-board no amount of consumer advertising is going to increase scripts.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2017 21:57:26 GMT -5 @kastanes said:

Every diabetic that a friend and I convinced to request Afrezza was turned down by the doctor; if doctors are not on-board no amount of consumer advertising is going to increase scripts.

There has to be a few that are persistent enough to get a script for Afrezza if they know of Afrezza - no matter how.

[careful2invest]

Feb 14, 2017 21:57:26 GMT -5 @kastanes said:

Every diabetic that a friend and I convinced to request Afrezza was turned down by the doctor; if doctors are not on-board no amount of consumer advertising is going to increase scripts.

Thats when the patient steps up and does not give up until they find a doc that will prescribe AFREZZA.
That, or find the nearest VDEX location.
Apparently, the benefits of AFREZZA are well worth the extra effort for a longer and better quality of life!
GLTA TRUE LONGS!

[Deleted]

My point is: doctors will drive scripts not diabetes. I recommend switching doctors to three that requested Afrezza and were turned down, only one is considering it. It appears doctors have control; not the patients.

[brotherm1]

I doubt if we'll be going hog wild with advertising just yet. I'm not convinced the so called table is set enough yet with insurance and endos. Label change to ultra rapid, time in range study for better titration, pediatric trial and approval, medicare, and somehow more money from somewhere to keep us going through this year or so and enough money somehow to go crazy with advertising would certainly ignite the rocket. I think advertising for a while will be mostly to geographical areas where we have Afrezza friendly docs and decent insurance coverage and perhaps to financially well to do areas. I would think these are the areas we now have sales reps. Mike said 4-6 months for a turnaround with the new sales force. We need more time. Hopefully we'll find more money soon. I think we will. There is tons of money in the world. At the current price, this is an awesome investment for someone with a few good sized beans to spare. In the alternative to the white knight though: conserving cash, working on restructuring debt, selling an asset or two, partnering for EpiHale with up front cash, scraping for more cash here and there, perhaps an oversees Afrezza partnership, and growing prescriptions in our selected target areas to get the share price up enough to eventually tap into for more cash seems to me are realistic options and perhaps a large part of the current game plan.

[gamblerjag]

Curious why the top Endos in the U.S. aren't able to get other Endo's PCP's on board.  I know it's not their job to inform others but wouldn't you think by now less known endo's would be thinking lets give this a try?

[surplusvalue]

Feb 14, 2017 22:24:39 GMT -5 @kastanes said:

My point is: doctors will drive scripts not diabetes. I recommend switching doctors to three that requested Afrezza and were turned down, only one is considering it. It appears doctors have control; not the patients.

First Sanofi, then MNKD.. how much time has been spent getting the doctors on board and educated? Results, almost none in terms of scripts. They can keep trying this approach and they will get the same results. Doctors will not drive scripts except for a few that in the sense that they promote it like Edelman.

Firstly, MNKD has a target list of receptive physicians and even with them virtually no sales. There's some pretty dramatic evidence right there. Most physicians even if they are on board are not going to voluntarily disrupt the regimen of their existing patients, disruptive of the patients and the practice. It will likely be used for the more problematic cases.
No question that they needed in the first phase to address the physicians and no doubt still need to build the receptive list of doctors but not continuously at the expense of awareness. Spending all their time on physicians is not something they can continue to afford. Time is a valuable commodity for MNKD especially given the financial situation.

You need patient demand to push for it and that will come from patients.  Advertising doesnt equate with demand but it builds awareness and with that the potential for demand. No awareness, no demand. And there is no awareness of Afrezza.  I cannot help be struck by Mike's statement at the last CC that there is no awareness of Afrezza.
No shit, sherlock. Now maybe coming late to the party Mike assumed that MNKD had at least to some degree built awareness in the patient base but his statement made it seem that this was some sort of new revelation for MNKD. WTF.

MNKD has been remiss is this regard. They have acted like because they have a better product it should sell itself. It doesnt. Al said to Matt to take care of the patient and the rest will follow, he didnt say take care of the doctors. Maybe he knew enough not to be ignored.

[hillsave]

Feb 14, 2017 21:47:30 GMT -5 careful2invest said:

Feb 14, 2017 20:51:25 GMT -5 surplusvalue said:

They are; they're not selling. They sure are spending though..10-12M a month.

Back when Sanofi was in control and halfway through I was posting on the YMB repeatedly calling for advertising. I indicated that educating the doctors 
was not going to do much and that it had to be timed properly with advertising to push from both sides. Doctors are way too conservative in general;part of their training.
I stated that if the advertising wasnt timed properly there would be a significant lag in momentum and probably stagnation in sales.
I cant remember how many times I repeated the same thing here as did many others in remarking about the need for building mass awareness.

Now to be fair MNKD has had alot of impediments they have had to work out (spirometry, titration , coverage etc. ) Remember all the way back when Hakan went to France and came back with the excuse that spirometry was holding back acceptance and sales? 
However, these are all problems that MNKD seems to have not been aware of until they had to figure out what was causing poor sales and lack of retention. They should have been aware of all these problems from the beginning. Seems shareholders have been paying dearly for MNKD's steep learning curve despite the large executive salaries and compensation. 

I hope they succeed but it appears that alot of very bad management decisions have limited their abilities and put a very large limitation on any funds for advertising. 

Many mistakes were made, that is in the past, cannot change that, but things are finally in place for success.
The "time in range" trials being conducted now is huge! I was so happy to read that!
AFREZZA shines in that capacity!

Many of us have been asking for advertising for a very long time. But in hindsight, maybe it was best that they
did not advertise early and here is why...

Think if MNKD would have advertised in the beginning with Sanofi, taking into account spirometry, titration and insurance coverage.
None of that was in place or dialed in.
Doctors and Patients would have been confused and (at that time) neither MNKD or Sanofi knew enough or had the resources available to address these issues with the amount of volume that they would have probably been coming in, Due to advertising.
It could have been a disaster!
No doubt, the past three years or so has been no picnic, and the pps is suffering, but I feel like the ship is finally being righted!

MNKD learned alot in that time (with Sanofi) and thankfully, due to MNKD's efforts, they have addressed these issues and between MNKD, VDEX, JDRF, etc., a new patient can receive superior direction to adjust to using AFREZZA.
The timing for advertising is now!
GLTA TRUE LONGS!
 

I have been using Afrezza for 2 years come March 11th. I am T2. My GP gave me the script because I told him to. In 2016 I had to go to an Endo because my insurance co stopped covering it unless I had a letter of medical necessity. Originally my new Endo wouldn't write the letter so I paid for afrezza myself. He was adamant about that. Didn't want to go to bat for me against a medical director of United Healthcare . After another 3 months of seeing ny A1C go from 6.2, to 5.7 to 5.5 you wouldn't believe the great letter he wrote and the letter he helped me write. I received coverage within 24 hours after they received the letter of medical necessity. If there is a will there is a way. My son is T1 and has been using Afrezza for his meal time Insulin for 22 months. He has been featured on Fox News in NY and in CBS WITH DR MAX GOMEZ. If you haven't seen the Video from Dr Edelstein on how to properly use Afrezza you must watch it. If you are trying to get your doctor to write a prescription make sure he watches it in front of you. I guarantee it will change his mind.