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Post by 4Balance on May 7, 2014 11:18:30 GMT -5
I understand there is an article in the WSJ that suggests Merck might become the BP partner to market Afrezza. Here's the comment by the medical professional who got me into MNKD years ago: "Merck so looks like it is positioning to be the marketer of Afrezza. Their explanation of how they were going to use the proceeds for the sale of their OTC med, etc. was telling. Obviously I could be wrong but would not be surprised if a deal was already done."
I don't have access to the WSJ article...perhaps someone else does...
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Post by notamnkdmillionaire on May 7, 2014 13:17:06 GMT -5
The article is above the fold on the MArketPlace section of the paper and there is no mention of AFrezza or Mannkind in the article. The article hl is "Merck Cleans Out Its MEdicine Cabinet."
There is also a blurb on the last page of Money and Investing section "heard on the street" about MErck but again, no mention of MNKD.
SO who ever told you that MNKD was mentioned needs to stop smoking crack and snorting Comet.
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Post by 4allthemarbles on May 7, 2014 13:57:57 GMT -5
The article is above the fold on the MArketPlace section of the paper and there is no mention of AFrezza or Mannkind in the article. The article hl is "Merck Cleans Out Its MEdicine Cabinet." There is also a blurb on the last page of Money and Investing section "heard on the street" about MErck but again, no mention of MNKD. SO who ever told you that MNKD was mentioned needs to stop smoking crack and snorting Comet. Say no to Comet! |
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Post by 4Balance on May 7, 2014 14:39:33 GMT -5
Well, that'll teach me to find the source first. <sigh>
I've asked my contact to connect the dots for me...indicate how he thinks Merck is positioning itself to market Afrezza.
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Post by 4Balance on May 7, 2014 14:46:49 GMT -5
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Post by 4Balance on May 7, 2014 23:35:12 GMT -5
In all fairness, I did not say that the article explicitly mentioned MNKD or Afrezza. And I'm not sure it would be wise for MRK to mention a "strong leaning" at this time, pre-FDA approval...could induce some panic in those who hold MRK.
The nature of the argument is:
#1, it is unlikely they intend to return to shareholders the proceeds of their sales of OTC meds;
#2, given their passion to find "breakthrough products" and their recognition that diabetes is a huge issue, Afrezza will soon present itself as a great fit;
#3, I have heard that they already have insulin supply relationships (Organon) (from another poster); and
#4 My source says, "Merck has a huge marketing operation and they are very well positioned to sell Afrezza. In my day, many years ago, Merck was big with primary care docs and that is just the target MNKD wants for marketing. They said years ago they (MNKD) would like to do their own marketing to the endos and leave the rest to a partner. I just see Merck as a great fit."
Chances are, you know more about the suitability of this relationship than I do. I simply pass on the results of an educated read...my source is a retired surgeon, very astute business-wise, who's held MNKD for a number of years.
So...as we try to anticipate the winner, it makes sense to keep an eye on MRK, watching for other subtle signals...
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Post by babaoriley on May 8, 2014 1:14:29 GMT -5
Nice job, 4balance! Merck would be wonderful, as would any other big pharma; I'm really not picky and I don't know enough (essentially "don't know anything but the stock symbols") about each big pharma to know which makes the most sense (but if Afrezza's as hot as we think it is, then why wouldn't any pharma want in so long as the price was right?). If I had a friend high up in Merck, I'd be sure to ask him or her if they'd been approached by Greenhill and that MNKD is on the market. But I don't, so I'll wait and see.
As far as the money Merck is raising, to the extent it will be used to purchase some companies, that's great, but it surely wasn't done with MNKD alone in mind, but maybe as one of three or four companies or drugs they'd very much like to acquire.
Come one, come all, but please come soon after approval!
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Post by ezrasfund on May 8, 2014 10:34:33 GMT -5
Since the days before the last CRL I have thought that Merck is a good fit as a partner for Afrezza. They are one of the few companies that has the experience and the sales force to market Afrezza effectively while not competing directly with any of their own products. And believe it or not, I think Al would prefer to work with a US company as other technosphere products are developed. Sanofi is my other pick because of Lantus, which has been used as a basal insulin in the T1 trials. And then there is Novartis which has been suggested by Seyhey44.
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