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Post by lakers on Nov 4, 2017 12:33:30 GMT -5
Nov. 2, 2017 1:22 p.m. ET MannKind’s Cash Runway Looks Too Short Maxim is disappointed in the amount of capital raised in an equity offering may not support the launch of Afrezza. MannKind (MNKD: Nasdaq) By Maxim Group ($3.17, Nov. 1, 2017) We are downgrading MannKind shares to Hold from Buy, and remove the $7 price target. We are disappointed in the amount of capital MannKind (ticker: MNKD) raised in an equity offering (about $58 million) as based on our assumptions, it does not provide adequate funds (to support the required marketing effort and time) to translate into meaningful signs that the launch of Afrezza will be successful. The hope had been with roughly $120 million, the company would be able to show enough share gains to project a robust launch trajectory, setting the stage for additional capital, but at a higher valuation. We now see the opposite position. Based on our calculations (we have consistently assumed), MannKind will spend just under $100 million per year for the next few years to support Afrezza. We estimate cash on the balance sheet of about $60 million at year end. Based on our model and assumptions, MannKind today has less than two operating quarters of cash. The weakness in the stock post-raise concerns us, in terms of the company’s ability to go back to the market on strong fundamental terms -- that is, the next raise will likely be dilutive. Most importantly, know that Afrezza is both a promotionally sensitive and an education-driven product. Changing user awareness and habits will take time. Our revenue forecast assuming MannKind has the needed capital to invest in marketing suggests break-even is possible by 2020. We assume MannKind will need to raise at least an additional $150 million-$300 million in capital before there is sufficient free cash flow to support operations. These factors, combined with a promotionally sensitive product that requires a lot of patient education and behavioral modifications, translate into gradual uptake. It will take time to change user habits, (we don’t expect quick market share gains), especially not in the early days of the launch. As such, the decision to raise just under $60 million (netting $57.7 million) puts the company in a precarious position. -- Jason Kolbert -- Jason McCarthy www.barrons.com/articles/mannkinds-cash-runway-looks-too-short-1509643365[Maxim wants to be selected or co-selected for the next cap raised?]
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Post by lakers on Nov 4, 2017 2:04:33 GMT -5
VDEX Diabetes Care Centers We believe Afrezza first, Afrezza Instead, Afrezza Always.
Understanding HbA1c
“Hemoglobin A1c,” “HbA1c,” or just “A1c” for short, is a measure of a persons’ average blood sugar levels. It is determined through a simple test that can be performed in a doctor’s office or a lab. Since blood sugar levels are an important factor of overall health, everyone should know their HbA1c number, whether diabetic, prediabetic, or nondiabetic.
Normal HbA1c levels are from about 4.5 – 5.7. Prediabetic levels are 5.8 – 6.4, and the diagnosis of diabetes is 6.5 and above. Since HbA1c is an average, it carries with it the deficiency of all averages. Mark Twain said it best, “A man with one foot in a bucket of ice water and the other foot in a bucket of scalding water is, on average, comfortable.” That quote really captures one of the problems of A1c. A person with diabetes who has a reasonable A1c might only have that because the high blood sugar levels are counterbalanced by dangerously low levels.
With blood sugar, very high levels or very low levels are damaging to the body. High levels maintained over long periods of time literally degrade tissue and can lead to complications like heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, erectile dysfunction, and the list goes on. By contrast, very low levels for even fairly short periods like an hour or so can lead to disorientation, brain damage, coma and even death.
In the healthy person, the body’s natural mechanisms operate to keep blood sugar levels very stable. As HbA1c levels rise, it’s an indication that blood sugar levels are becoming unstable. HbA1c can be thought of as the canary in the coal mine.
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Post by lakers on Oct 28, 2017 13:10:06 GMT -5
Ordinary I would agree, but Merck has been facing headwinds as European bio similar are cutting into its revenue. I read an article recently where the author stated, "Historically, patent expiration causes the vast majority of brand-name drug sales to shift to competitors, however, it's anyone's guess exactly how quickly that will happen at Merck. Merck's fast-growing drugs provide it with some insulation, and if the company secures FDA approval of MK-1293, a bio similar to the $6 billion plus per year insulin Lantus, then it may be in even better shape to handle the hit to sales caused by expiring patents." That got me to thinking that if Merck is planning to market a potential blockbuster basal insulin, why not consider a potential blockbuster prandial insulin -Afrezza? It may be reaching, but I'm not ready to totally dismiss the idea of a collaboration or M&A. Having Merck become a parent corporation to MannKind presents some exciting capabilities, PAH to name just one. MRK, MYL sued by Sny on Lantus patent Read more: mnkd.proboards.com/thread/8972/mrk-myl-sued-lantus-patent#ixzz4wpLBYtfoWith basal blocked, Merck may need an ultra-fast-acting prandial to compete against the world renowned Fiasp (Fast-acting insulin aspart) already for sale in EU, Canada. With MRK marketing muscle, A could become a BB. So could inhaled Tresprotinil for PAH. There would be great synergy for Merck to own part or all of Mnkd. I believe there is better than 50-50 chance this will happen. The Q is how does Merck value Mnkd thru an equity stake, 200M for 10% ($2B), or an outright M&A ($3B)? One can buy MRK stock to participate in the TS success down the road. The fastest way for A to become a BB is to be owned by a committed, deep pocketed partner/owner who has several hundreds million marketing budget. It's hard to dink, dunk to a TD. One needs to stretch the field sometimes to put fear in the opponent.
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Post by lakers on Oct 28, 2017 12:47:15 GMT -5
By Sysy Morales September 29th, 2017 Novo Nordisk’s Fiasp (insulin aspart) 100 Units/mL has been approved by the US FDA. Fiasp is a fast-acting mealtime insulin for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. According to a PR Newswire press release, it can be given at the beginning of a meal or within 20 minutes after starting a meal. Fiasp is a new formulation of NovoLog. They added niacinamide, otherwise known as vitamin B3 which speeds up the rate of initial absorption. Customers in Europe and Canada have already been using it. How Fast is Insulin Fiasp? The new insulin Fiasp starts working in about 2.5 minutes and will be available by FlexTouch insulin pens or via a 10mL vial. Currently, most fast-acting insulin such as Humalog and NovoLog need 10-15 minutes to begin working and while this doesn’t seem like a big difference, it can be for those who want to begin lowering blood sugar as soon as possible or those who don’t want to wait so long (or at all) before eating for their insulin to kick in. Bruce Bode, MD FACE and President of Atlanta Diabetes Associates and Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine said in a statement: “With Fiasp, we’ve built on the insulin aspart molecule to create a new treatment option to help patients meet their post-meal blood sugar target,” and that “The intention of rapid acting insulin therapy is to mimic, as much as possible, the natural physiological insulin response that occurs after meals, a process that is important for optimal A1C management.” Fiasp has been FDA approved thanks to results from the onset phase 3a clinical development program. These trials involved over 2,000 adults with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Participants showed a reduction in their A1c levels while taking Fiasp at mealtime and also after starting a meal. Common adverse reactions, aside from low blood sugar episodes, were seen in ≥5% of the participants and included nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, diarrhea and back pain. How Much Will Fiasp Cost and When Can We Get It? Fiasp is going to launch at the same list price as NovoLog and Novo Nordisk will be offering a Savings Card program for those who are eligible and have commercial insurance to reduce co-pays. Patients using the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program will also have Fiasp available. If you want to learn more about that assistance program you can call 866-310-7549. A representative for Novo Nordisk wrote in an email that we should see Fiasp available in US pharmacies in late December or by early 2018. www.diabetesdaily.com/blog/new-ultra-fast-acting-insulin-fiasp-is-us-fda-approved-489794/
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Post by lakers on Oct 28, 2017 12:24:04 GMT -5
FDA Approves Faster-Acting Mealtime Insulin 10/3/17 - NEW NOW NEXT By Jeemin Kwon Faster version of Novo Nordisk’s NovoLog approved in the US for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, launch expected as early as end of 2017 A faster-acting injected mealtime insulin has just been approved by the FDA: Fiasp (“fast-acting insulin aspart”) is a quicker version of NovoLog, Novo Nordisk’s current mealtime insulin in the US. Fiasp is approved for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and will launch at the same price as NovoLog. The announcement did not specify when Fiasp will be on the shelves, though we expect it could launch at the end of 2017 or early 2018. Though priced the same as NovoLog, the newly-approved insulin has a faster onset and offset. On the front end, Fiasp acts so much faster that it can be taken as much as 20 minutes after starting a meal. While taking it at the beginning of the meal is strongly recommended, this dosing flexibility is a huge convenience win. Meanwhile, a faster offset brings reduced risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) hours after a meal, another key improvement. Past trials have also shown that compared to NovoLog, Fiasp users saw lower blood sugar levels an hour after mealtime (about 10 mg/dl lower) and slight decreases in A1c (about 0.15% lower). In the US, Fiasp will be sold in a FlexTouch pen and in 10 mL vials. We’re not sure when Fiasp will be approved in pediatrics, though hope this comes quickly. Following MannKind’s ultra-rapid-acting inhaled insulin, Afrezza, Fiasp is the first faster injectable mealtime insulin available in the US. diatribe.org/fda-approves-faster-acting-mealtime-insulinAfrezza can ride on Fiasp's coattail.
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Post by lakers on Oct 28, 2017 12:11:52 GMT -5
Experts Focus on Access and Outcomes Beyond A1c at 2017 ADA Forum diatribe.org/the-diatribe-foundation-and-tcoyd-11th-annual-forumOn a more positive note, panelists were enthusiastic that often, the effects of combination therapy go beyond solely lowering A1c. Dr. Aroda expressed optimism about the changes she is starting to see, noting new considerations such as fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels, hypoglycemia, blood pressure, and weight, that are increasingly used in measuring day-to-day “success.” Such holistic outlooks are a part of the “outcomes beyond A1c” movement in the diabetes community, and Dr. Edelman was particularly excited about The diaTribe Foundation’s upcoming gathering on outcomes beyond A1c! Dr. Edelman shared positive feedback from people using inhaled insulin (MannKind’s Afrezza), while Dr. Buse shared praise for an in-development pill to better manage type 1 diabetes (Sanofi/Lexicon’s sotagliflozin). As Dr. Edelman put it, insulin that works faster is a sizeable need in type 1 diabetes, and Afrezza rises to the occasion. Ms. Close positioned Novo Nordisk’s Fiasp (faster-acting insulin aspart) similarly, as a better option to what’s currently on the market for mealtime insulin (approved for use in Europe but still awaits FDA approval). Quotable Quotes With regards to artificial pancreas systems, “a year ago, we didn’t have a commercial product, and now we have over 20,000 people signed up to go on the Medtronic MiniMed 670G system. It’s a landmark. It’s a story change.” – Dr. Bruce Buckingham (Stanford University) “This is an outrageous story – that there are drugs that save lives, and 5% of people in the US are on SGLT-2 inhibitor at best? 10% are on GLP-1 agonists at best?” – Dr. John Buse (UNC Chapel Hill) “You cannot start with a single drug, and then wait until you fail to start another drug…I advocate for combination therapy [in type 2 diabetes].” – Dr. Ralph DeFronzo (University of Texas Health Science Center) “We’ve done a lot of trials on combination therapy of a GLP-1 agonist with a long-acting basal insulin analog, which I think are without a doubt the most powerful glucose-lowering agents on the planet.” – Dr. John Buse (UNC Chapel Hill) “In this new era, you have to choose drugs that not only have glucose benefits, but also cardiovascular benefits.” – Dr. Ralph DeFronzo (University of Texas Health Science Center) “I can feel the change happening year by year. We’re getting away from the singular view of diabetes, and we’re instead viewing diabetes more holistically. I’m excited about it. In a few years, I don’t know if it will be all about A1c.” – Dr. Vanita Aroda (The Medstar Health Research Institute) “The most waste in type 2 diabetes is to continuously put people on metformin and sulfonylureas (glyburide, glimepiride, etc.). These drugs have no protective effect on the beta cell, and by the time you figure out what you’re doing, there are no beta cells left to save.” – Dr. Ralph DeFronzo (University of Texas Health Science Center) “It’s also about the global picture of type 1 diabetes. I’d love to be able to see kids everywhere get anything they want: sensors, pumps, etc.” – Dr. Bruce Buckingham (Stanford University) “I truly feel that we have all the tools, all the resources, and yet we all kind of putz around with diabetes. We, meaning the healthcare system. The true waste is time. As we know from the concept of clinical inertia, health care providers all-too-often go three-four years before making any changes to treatment that could actually make a long-term difference.” – Dr. Vanita Aroda (The Medstar Health Research Institute)
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Post by lakers on Oct 28, 2017 4:26:42 GMT -5
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Post by lakers on Oct 27, 2017 19:00:02 GMT -5
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Post by lakers on Oct 27, 2017 11:17:54 GMT -5
Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and The Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute Announce Strategic Agreement Partnership Intends to Accelerate Drug Discovery by Utilizing Torrey Pines' Compound Libraries and Screening Technologies www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/torrey-pines-institute-for-molecular-studies-and-the-tri-institutional-therapeutics-discovery-institute-announce-strategic-agreement-300492798.htmlPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., July 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Inc. (TPIMS) today announced a strategic agreement with The Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (Tri-I TDI). TPIMS has built a collection of compounds and corresponding technologies enabling the rapid screening of up to trillions of unique compounds by testing only hundreds of samples to identify individual hit compounds for development. The mission of the Tri-I TDI is to advance groundbreaking biological discoveries to preclinical studies by providing industrial-scale technical support for academic projects, making it possible to rapidly assess the utility of specific therapeutic targets in disease-relevant contexts. "We are pleased to partner with Tri-I TDI and provide our compound collection," said Richard Houghten, Ph.D., Founder and CEO, TPIMS. "Our technologies can enable high-throughput screening in a variety of biological assay formats, including phenotypic assays. This collaboration aims to accelerate drug discovery, ultimately providing new therapies to treat human diseases." Through this partnership, TPIMS will provide Tri-I TDI with the TPIMS compound collection for screening to identify hit compounds within Tri-I TDI research programs. This provides Tri-I TDI with capabilities to perform high-throughput screening across a variety of assay platforms with TPIMS' unique compound collection. "We believe that access to the TPIMS compound collection will enhance our ability to deliver on our mission. Leads from these collections should enable the progression of groundbreaking academic discoveries to preclinical studies in order to demonstrate their relevance in blocking disease initiation and progression," stated Peter T. Meinke, Ph.D., VP, Preclinical Development, Tri-I TDI. About the Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (Tri-I TDI) The Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute (Tri-I TDI) connects researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medicine with collaborators from across the globe to remove the barriers that impede drug discovery in academic settings. Together with its partners, Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Bridge Medicines, the Tri-I TDI enables the discovery of next-generation drugs by empowering faculty with the tools, technology, and expertise to meet this extraordinary challenge. This partnership leverages combined resources to help academic researchers rapidly advance their groundbreaking discoveries along the path from bench to bedside.
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Post by lakers on Oct 27, 2017 10:56:32 GMT -5
register.epo.org/application?number=EP12784825&tab=mainEU Patent Office: New update 10/25/17 after a long dormant. Perhaps TP, Mnkd wants to license this miracle drug for $$$? EP2776053 - METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING PAIN [Right-click to bookmark this link] Status Examination is in progress Status updated on 26.12.2016 Database last updated on 25.10.2017 Most recent event Tooltip 23.10.2017 New entry: Despatch of examination report + time limit Applicant(s) For all designated states MannKind Corporation 30930 Russell Ranch Road Suite 301 Westlake Village CA 91362 / US For all designated states Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies 11350 SW Village Parkway Port St. Lucie, FL 34987 / US [2017/39] Inventor(s) 01 / LEONE-BAY, Andrea 297 Florida Hill Road Ridgefield, CT 06877 / US 02 / HOUGHTEN, Richard, A. 295 Riverway Drive Vero Beach, FL 32963-2645 / US 03 / GUARNERI, Joseph, J. 72 Geriak Road Stamford, CT 06905 / US 04 / STOWELL, Grayson, W. 213 Lost Tree Lane Cary, NC 27513 / US [2014/43] Representative(s) Potter Clarkson LLP The Belgrave Centre Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GG / GB [N/P] Application number, filing date 12784825.7 24.10.2012 WO2012US61749 Priority number, date US201161550860P 24.10.2011 Original published format: US 201161550860 P [2014/38] Filing language EN Procedural language EN Publication Type: A1 Application with search report No.: WO2013063160 Date: 02.05.2013 Language: EN [2013/18] Type: A1 Application with search report No.: EP2776053 Date: 17.09.2014 Language: EN The application has been published by WIPO in one of the EPO official languages on 02.05.2013 [2014/38] Search report(s) International search report EP 02.05.2013 Classification International: A61K38/04, A61K38/07, A61K38/08, A61K9/00 [2014/38] Designated contracting states AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR [2014/38] Examination procedure 23.04.2014 Examination requested [2014/38] 12.01.2015 Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description) 24.11.2015 Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M06) 18.03.2016 Reply to a communication from the examining division 15.12.2016 Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04) 05.04.2017 Reply to a communication from the examining division 12.10.2017 Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M02) Divisional application(s) International search [XY]WO2010144789 (MANNKIND CORP [US], et al) [X] 1,2,10-17 * Inhalable diketopiperazine microparticles for the delivery of peptides, including the peptides "substance P" and "neurokine A" , which have less than 20 aminoacids and which have analgesic effects. (See paragraphs [0007, 0041, 0045], page 18, line 12 (substance P and neurokin A), claims * [Y] 1-17; [Y]EP2314298 (MANNKIND CORP [US]) [Y] 1-17 * Diketopiperazine microparticles for the administration of peptides to the pulmonary system (see claims 1, 29, 36, paragraph [0046] and page 8, line 8 *; [Y]WO9640206 (TORREY PINES INST [US]) [Y] 1-17 * See the claimed peptides, and in paticular those of table 2; and their activity as analgesic agents (see page 10, lines 29-30; examples and tables) *; [Y]WO9627386 (HOUGHTEN PHARM INC [US]) [Y] 1-17 * Peptides as in claim 6 and their use in the treatment of pain: see page 33, line 29, and see the peptides of claim 14 *; [Y]WO9932510 (FERRING BV [NL], et al) [Y] 1-17 * Opioid peptides and their use in the treatment of pain: see page 3, line 30, page 11, lines 8-11; page 27, lines 3-4, tables and claim 21 *; WO2010125103 (GLAXO GROUP LTD [GB], et al) 1-17 * Diketopiperazine having analgesic activity (see claims 1 and 19) * - ROSÉN ANNIKA ET AL, "Substance P microinjected into the periaqueductal gray matter induces antinociception and is released following morphine administration.", BRAIN RESEARCH 19 MAR 2004, (20040319), vol. 1001, no. 1-2, ISSN 0006-8993, pages 87 - 94, XP002692813 1-17 * See abstract: Substance P induces antinociceptic response *
DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1016/J.BRAINRES.2003.11.060 - YAN G P ET AL, "[Analgesic action of microinjection of neurokinin A into the lateral reticular nucleus and nucleus raphe magnus in rats].", DATABASE MEDLINE, US NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE (NLM), BETHESDA, MD, US, (199610), Database accession no. NLM9387783, XP002692814 1-17 * See the abstract: Neurokinin A has analgesic effect * [] - YAN G P ET AL, "[Analgesic action of microinjection of neurokinin A into the lateral reticular nucleus and nucleus raphe magnus in rats].", SHENG LI XUE BAO : [ACTA PHYSIOLOGICA SINICA] OCT 1996, (199610), vol. 48, no. 5, ISSN 0371-0874, pages 493 - 496, by applicant US5610271
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Post by lakers on Oct 26, 2017 23:52:05 GMT -5
I thought the Technosphere pain drug dream died long ago?! I posted a paper naming the TP compound and its effective therapeutic effect. Could someone dig it up? To commercialize the inhaled compound, Mnkd, TP need a deep pocket, patient partner as it is not bio equivalent to anything. It would take 4 phases of trials. The drug borders on the miracle, non-opioid. It would be a multi-BB. I have seen a forgotten compound became a BB if it falls into a strong hand.
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Post by lakers on Oct 26, 2017 23:46:10 GMT -5
What CVS' acquisition of Aetna could mean for shoppers, patients www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/10/26/cvs-buying-aetna-heres-what-could-mean-shoppers-and-patients/805202001/An important part of CVS' business is CVS Caremark, the prescription benefit management subsidiary of CVS Health. Prescription benefit management companies work with insurers to decide which drugs are most beneficial and cost efficient. They also negotiate discounts from drug manufacturers. Currently, CVS Caremark has expertise and access to customers’ pharmaceutical information and medical needs, so it makes sense that the company would want to expand that to include not just pharmacy but full health care, says Mohamed Jalloh,a spokesman for the American Pharmacists Association. “It could be that they’re trying to expand their service and extend the pharmacy insurance benefit to insuring everything,” said Jalloh. Agnese says don't expect the deep discounts, but he adds that "the more (CVS) is purchasing, the better the deals they'll be able to get (from drug companies)." Research by Leemore Dafny at the Harvard Business School found that consolidation in the private health insurance industry has often led to premium increases even though the insurers with larger local market share were able to obtain lower prices. The merger wouldn’t likely save much money for consumers, in the opinion of Aaron Katz, an expert on health policy at the University of Washington’s school of public health. That doesn't’ mean it wouldn’t save money for the companies. “Larger entities tend to be tougher negotiators over price and contracts,” said Katz.
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Post by lakers on Oct 26, 2017 23:21:32 GMT -5
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Post by lakers on Oct 26, 2017 17:51:05 GMT -5
7. Expansion of Payor Coverage (CVS/Caremark? Mike C said they were ready to sign with a large PBM in Jan 18) ExpressScript, no PA, Aetna, Anthem and more in Jan 2018. But number one, our sales force was hired in February. We started with a small beta sales force last year, and we subsequently expanded them to a full-time MannKind sales force in February. And we started, February with about 70 FTEs, we since hired some Medical Liaisons and we’ve got a fully integrated sales team, I think right about 90ish sales reps today, and our insurance coverage continues to expand, so we have Express Scripts with no prior authorization, Aetna, Anthem and more to come. One Drop collaboration is something we announced in late May, and that’s something that we’re looking at around, how do you use coaching to get optimal outcomes? How you potentially think about a membership model to change the cash market? There’s $300 million in cash insulin sales in this country, where people are paying several hundred dollars a month just for their insulin. The next thing is around clinical trials. So the last time there was any trial done for this drug was probably back in 2012 subsequently getting ready for approval. Since then you’ve had people like Dexcom and One Drop and [indiscernible] all these new technologies coming into diabetes around coaching and virtual apps, and so we don’t have any data in that space. We started to invest data looking at dosing of this product and how you dose the drug, because we think that if you go back to the pivotal programs, the product was consistently underdosed. And so we passed our outcomes, but I believe if you really dose the product, if you look at some of our modeling data, we believe we can have potentially a superior insulin. Now, we’re trying to really get some of that data moving, so that we can really articulate what the product profile looks like versus other mealtime insulins. MannKind's (MNKD) CEO Michael Castagna on Cantor Fitzgerald Global Healthcare Conference (Transcript) $MNKD www.seekingalpha.com/article/4109298 www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/26/aetna-shares-soar-report-potential-acquisition-cvs-health/804360001/Kevin McCoy, USA TODAY Published 4:52 p.m. ET Oct. 26, 2017 | Updated 6:27 p.m. ET Oct. 26, 2017 The companies are in talks for CVS Healthcare (CVS) to acquire Aetna (AET) for more than $200 per share, a deal that would value the insurer at more than $66 billion, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the issue. CFRA Research analyst Joseph Agnese said in a Thursday note that the potential deal would make strategic sense because it would help CVS incentivize Aetna's 23 million health plan participants to use the CVS/Caremark mail order prescription system and shop at the pharmacy company's retail stores. The transaction would also eliminate any risk that CVS could lose Aetna's business, which contributed 11.2% of CVS' consolidated net revenues in 2016, Agnese wrote. Any acquisition agreement involving the companies would add another deal to the corporate combinations that have emerged in the healthcare industry in recent years. Aetna in 2015 agreed to acquire rival health insurer Humana as part of a deal initially valued at $37 billion but abandoned the transaction in February amid antitrust concerns raised by the Obama administration. The company in June announced plans to shift its headquarters from Hartford, Conn. to New York City. CVS and Caremark Rx closed a $21 billion merger of equals in 2007. In a bid to cope with slower sales, CVS more recently has moved deeper into health care, offering vaccinations by pharmacists and helping customers deal with asthma and other ailments.
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Post by lakers on Oct 24, 2017 2:17:04 GMT -5
kc, what is it you're expecting on the $60 million? Sch 13G by the new 5% owner, if any, 10 days after 10/13 PIPE. Mnkd will announce its earnings call at least a week prior to ER. The mandated 10-Q filing date is 11/9/17.
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