Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Your translation (i.e. for all practical purposes, Sanofi already owns MannKind. When somebody else controls all your marketing and sales, and you are in debt to them, then they own you) is purely an opinion out of your own speculation, and most importantly, not a fact.
I do not make investment decision on this basis. Knowing that the success of a new drug depends not only on capabilities of marketing, finance, production, etc., but also very much on acceptance of patients, insurance coverage. Collaboration happens to be one of the factors.
I think the pps only reflects the market sentiment and manipulation towards the stock. As far as the sales performance of Afrezza, it is under performed from some analysts' perspective, outperformed if compared with IMS script numbers and really we have no idea from SNY and MNKD's point of view. Thus I would not want to draw any general conclusion at this point.
On the other hand, I do agree that the down trend of MNKD is not completed yet. I am looking to buy more when pps hit over 20% below MA20!
Are you sure this is what your doctor FEELS or KNOWS? Knowing some thing wrong is so different from feeling something wrong, Isn't it?
According to the script numbers we have here reflect total Sales by March 27, 2015 (since February launch) is about $568,680. So the record here only represents 50% of actual sales by SNY!
(Euro 1 million is about $1.13 million)
Q1 of 2015 Sales of Afrezza by SNY:
Afrezza®, a new rapid-acting inhaled insulin therapy (licensing agreement with MannKind), was launched in the U.S. in February 2015. Sales of the product were €1 million in the first quarter.
http://en.sanofi.com/NasdaQ_OMX/local/press_releases/sanofi_delivers_q1_2015_busine_1916970_30-04-2015!07_30_00.aspx
EBM: Please update us on the progress you made with Sanofi’s recent launches.
Jérôme Contamine: .... February, Afrezza®, a new inhaled insulin, was launched in the US market. More recently, we also launched Toujeo® in the US in late March, our new once-daily long-acting basal insulin, which was approved by the FDA earlier this year and this week by the European regulatory authorities.
http://en.sanofi.com/events/2015_1stQR/docs/20150430_Q1Results_Transcript_EN.pdf
Nice find. Thank you.
I have been keeping track of their data. Good to know they are improving day by day, week by week!
MannKind's Future: More than Just Afrezza?
MannKind's pipeline of opportunity is explored.
Brian Feroldi
TMFTypeoh Apr 29, 2015 at 9:09AM
2014 was an exciting year for MannKind (NASDAQ:MNKD) investors, as its inhaled insulin product Afrezza finally gained approval from the FDA. MannKind also signed a global liscencing deal with Sanofi (NYSE:SNY), which gave the company an immediate $150 million cash injection as well as a strong partner with a global sales footprint.
MannKind also has the opportunity to earn an additional $775 million from Sanofi if certain regulatory and sales milestones are reached with Afrezza. The company was able to meet a few of those requirements in the fourth quarter of 2014, entitling it to a collect an additional $50 million.
Beyond Afrezza...
For the next few quarters investors' eyes are going to be laser focused on Afrezza sales -- if the drug is a hit with patients and providers, it could pay off handsomely.
However, even with Afrezza getting all the attention, there's more to MannKind's story. Savvy investors should be asking: what else does the company have in its pipeline?
MannKind has stated that its Technosphere formulation technology has applications beyond the insulin delivery market. The Technosphere technology allows for drugs that are currently administered via an injection to potentially become inhaled, which allows for faster absorption as well as eliminating the need to take a shot.
On its most recent conference call, MannKind's management team noted that they hired a consulting group to identify a number of disease states that could benefit from inhaled drug delivery. CEO Hakan Edstrom highlighted a specific focus on pulmonary diseases, pain, and oncology support.
MannKind has also hinted in the past that another opportunity may exist in the diabetes space: GLP-1 agonists. This drug class, which is designed to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin when blood sugar levels are high, is already on the market and is used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. When asked about the opportunity here, CEO Edstrom confirmed that they are discussing the opportunity with their partner Sanofi, and hinted that there many be a development project in the works.
We do not have a lot to go on about the clinical status of the GLP-1 opportunity, as the company hasn't put out a follow up press release since posting positive phase 1a results way back in November 2007. However, with CEO Edstrom calling it out as a potential development project with Sanofi, it could be an interesting opportunity for the company.
What to look for in the years ahead
While a near term investment in MannKind hinges around the success of Afrezza, the big opportunity that exists for MannKind is trying to make its Technosphere technology into a delivery platform for future drugs. Afrezza could be the much needed proof of concept for the technology itself, and if providers become comfortable prescribing an inhaled insulin, it's reasonable to assume that they may also be interested in offering patients inhaled versions of other drugs as well.
For the next few quarters investors should watch sales growth closely, which should hint at how comfortable physicians feel prescribing an inhaled insulin. A radical change in delivery mechanism may simply be too big of a leap for many providers to make, so investors should be on the lookout for any resistance that the company reports with making physicians feel comfortable. They should also closely watch how quickly the milestone payments are reached and listen for any announcements related to other drug opportunities.
If Afrezza is successful, it would go a long way to validate that the Technosphere platform works, and could open up MannKind's pipeline to a number of other interesting drug opportunities. At this point, all of MannKind's eggs are in the Afrezza basket, making the company much higher risk than if they had a full pipeline of announced projects.
The investment community remains skeptical of MannKind's future, as this already heavily shorted name has seen the number of shares sold short increase recently. As of March 31st, as many as 95 million shares of the 396 million outstanding have been sold short. The bears have been right so far about MannKind, but if Afrezza turns out to be a hit and validates doctors' acceptance of the Technosphere platform, then 2015 may finally be the year when long term bulls take over.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/04/29/mannkinds-future-more-than-just-afrezza.aspx?source=eptadnlnk0000002
How Afrezza is Changing the Life of a Type 1 Diabetic Pilot
We just introduced last week a new series, Afrezza in the Real World, that will share the views of various folks now taking this new inhalable insulin from MannKind and Sanofi.
(Speaking of Afrezza news: the FDA just approved 12-unit cartridges of Afrezza in addition to 4 and 8-unit cartridges.)
Today we're excited to kick off these patient testimonies by featuring Brian Sharp , in Oregon City, OR, who describes himself as: Dad, Pilot, Diver, Trouble Maker and Type 1 Diabetic Afrezza user. Here is his story:
A Guest Post by Brian Sharp
I was a very thirsty 30-year-old male, pilot, diver, working in a factory manufacturing bike frames. Life wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t hard either. I had only heard the word “Diabetes” in passing from time to time. I never paid attention to what it was.
As the thirst increasingly got worse, I decided to get it checked. I was sent from an urgent care to the emergency ward of a diabetes care center. In just one short day I learned that I was a diabetic, and I was no longer a pilot. I was crushed.
Over the last 16 years I have constantly struggled with my type 1 diabetes. When I was hospitalized I learned I was needle-phobic. Every day, every shot has been a struggle. My A1C’s reflected my hatred of shots with numbers over 12%.
One day I heard that the first inhaled insulin Exubera was in clinical trials. I started using it as soon as it was launched. It was a big inhalation device that many people made fun of, it did however work fairly well. I noticed a big benefit to inhaling insulin. I could just throw it in the car and go. It was easy to use and convenient. I could now take insulin, eat, test, and take more insulin, and so on, as often as needed to keep my BG in check. For the first time I was able to lower my A1C to around 8, but Exubera was pulled from the market due to lack of sales. My wife secured a large supply the last week they sold it, so I was able to use it for another 2½ years. During that time I heard that a new inhaled insulin called Afrezza was starting trials. Once again, my hopes were lifted.
I was spring-loaded with my endocrinologist, my insurance, and my pharmacy all set to go at Afrezza’s launch. My A1C was 10.1 in November. Not good, but I was certain I could get it down in the 8’s again by getting back onto inhaled insulin.
I received my first Afrezza Rx on February 12th, nine days after launch. I got it home as fast as I could and was totally excited! I was surprised at how small the inhaler was. It just pops open and the tiny cartridges just drop in to place. I’m not a directions reader, and I wasn’t about to start, but they do have a pictogram that shows you how to use it when you open the inhaler box. My training was now complete, it is so simple to use.
My first day using Afrezza was good; I kept my BG average below 200, which I could rarely do with Humalog. My 2nd day using Afrezza, my BG average was 127. As the days moved on, my BG average fell every day. By the second week of using Afrezza, my highest daily reading would be 150. My third week I averaged less than 120 every day, and I continued to improve every week. I don’t even count carbs. It has just been too easy.
As it turns out, there was more to the Afrezza than I had originally realized. All I had cared about was not taking shots. All I expected was to get my A1C down to around 8, but I realized after the first week that I could achieve an A1C below 7. I met other people using Afrezza with similar results like Sam Finta (@Afrezzauser). Sam told me he didn’t care about taking shots -- he takes Afrezza because it works at the same rate you digest food, and at the same rate as insulin delivered from a healthy pancreas. People are using Afrezza simply because of its incredible ability to control your BG levels. As I write this, I can eat whatever I want and maintain total control, and I don’t count carbs.
I have met people who are worried about the 4 unit dose being too large. If they took 4 units of Humalog for a correction, they would crash. First, you cannot compare other insulins to Afrezza. The speed at which Afrezza works and then leaves the body is its secret sauce. Because of Afrezza’s speed it works great in two ways: safe controlled corrections and the ability to stop BG’s from rising. Four units of Humalog is active in your system for over two hours. But Afrezza is active for such a short period of time, your BG can only fall so much. This makes corrections safe, easy, and gentle, the exact opposite of what everyone predicted.
The second advantage of Afrezza works is also related to its speed. You can take it at the same time you eat and it works at the same pace that you’re digesting the food. This makes it incredibly powerful at stopping your BG from rising in the first place. In short, Afrezza stops your BG from rising, and if you do let your BG rise, it will lower it gently, safely, and controllably.
Something else started to happen during my third week that I didn’t expect. My insulin resistance started to drop. So I needed to reduce my two daily doses of Lantus.
I’ve been asked a lot if I’ve experienced any side effects, and I can honestly say no. I don’t have a cough, and it doesn’t have a taste. I believe exercise is a diabetic’s best friend. I ride my mountain bike for exercise and do a fairly grueling uphill ride regularly, and I still have great lung function. I have accidentally pulled the inhaler out of my pocket trying to get a golf tee. I’ve never tried to tee a golf ball up on it, which might be hard. That’s the worst thing I can think of.
I have also started using a Dexcom CGM, which has helped me gain even greater control, although I was able to achieve excellent results with test strips.
I am also an avid scuba diver and underwater photographer. With Afrezza, I don’t have to dive with high BG levels or be in fear of crashing. I don’t need to take Afrezza three hours prior to a dive to assure that it’s all gone from my system before I get in the water. I am an experienced deep water diver, cold water, high-altitude, cave diver, wrecks, and night dives. Getting low on any of those types of dives could be fatal and endanger others, so control is paramount.
As far as flying, I hold a Commercial Glider license, which doesn’t carry the medical requirements that powered aircraft pilots must meet. I am rated to fly high-performance sailplanes that test the bodies’ limits with aerobatics and high-altitude flight. Low BG while flying is not an option. BG levels must be checked frequently prior to flying and during the flight. Afrezza is great because if I haven’t taken Afrezza for two hours prior to flying, I know my BG will not be dropping. It’s well-established that diabetics can fly safely, and Afrezza makes it even safer.
Currently I’m considering producing a video in which I will explain how to use Afrezza and demonstrate it while I perform extreme aerobatics in a stunt plane. Any Afrezza enthusiasts out there who would like to see something like that, email me at bsharp6669@msn.com with the title it "Aerobatics" to let me know.
One more item on my soapbox: Diabetics can fly aircraft safely, and should be allowed to obtain a medical and fly. I urge readers to please support the Private Pilot’s Bill of Rights 2. This bill is currently in Congress. You can read about the advocacy push here and easily send a message to your Congressman by clicking here. This could help diabetics to follow their dreams of flying.
In all, Afrezza has been a life-changing drug for me. I’m still a diabetic, but my BG levels don’t reflect that. Furthermore I’m not trying very hard to control it. I just take the Afrezza however often I need to keep my BG between the lines. It’s just that easy now.
Wow, thank you Brian. We can only hope that others can replicate your results.
http://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/how-afrezza-changing-life-type-1-diabetic-pilot
Inhaled Insulin: Overcoming Past Obstacles With Advances in Understanding CME/CE
http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/840611
Clinical Results of an Automated Artificial Pancreas Using Technosphere Inhaled Insulin to Mimic First-Phase Insulin Secretion. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2015 Apr 21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25901023
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not adding a fixed preprandial dose of inhaled insulin to a fully automated closed loop artificial pancreas would improve the postprandial glucose control without adding an increased risk of hypoglycemia.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:
Nine subjects with T1DM were recruited for the study. The patients were on closed-loop control for 24 hours starting around 4:30 pm. Mixed meals (~50 g CHO) were given at 6:30 pm and 7:00 am the following day. For the treatment group each meal was preceded by the inhalation of one 10 U dose of Technosphere Insulin (TI). Subcutaneous insulin delivery was controlled by a zone model predictive control algorithm (zone-MPC). At 11:00 am, the patient exercised for 30 ± 5 minutes at 50% of predicted heart rate reserve.
RESULTS:
The use of TI resulted in increasing the median percentage time in range (70-180 mg/dl, BG) during the 5-hour postprandial period by 21.6% (81.6% and 60% in the with/without TI cases, respectively, P = .06) and reducing the median postprandial glucose peak by 33 mg/dl (172 mg/dl and 205 mg/dl in the with and without TI cases, respectively, P = .004). The median percentage time in range 80-140 mg/dl during the entire study period was 67.5% as compared to percentage time in range without the use of TI of 55.2% (P = .03).
CONCLUSIONS:
Adding preprandial TI (See video supplement) to an automated closed-loop AP system resulted in superior postprandial control as demonstrated by lower postprandial glucose exposure without addition hypoglycemia.
© 2015 Diabetes Technology Society.
Absolutely. Traders on the contrary use this thesis for short term profits and short sellers for keeping the pps down. Investors for long term may ignore this noise.
Why Afrezza matters to people with diabetes - Nice to revisit
Posted by Desiree Johnson on April 3, 2014
Afrezza is a new diabetes drug pending approval by the FDA. As a community, we have been discussing what the potential impacts of a treatment like Afrezza becoming available in the market could be.
In this video, Manny Hernandez, President of Diabetes Hands Foundation, shares a brief history on his challenges with diabetes in the context of the new inhale-able insulin Afrezza.
http://diabeteshandsfoundation.org/afrezza-fda/
I'll buy more this week when pps is stabilized.
How about - Amazing Afrezza – Non-Invasive Insulin That Works!
I can’t wait to get my next A1C test done (who says that?! but it’s true). I am now two-plus months into my use of new inhaled insulin Afrezza, and frankly I’m blown away by how well it performs (ooh, pun!)
I’ve been hesitant to be too much of a cheerleader for Afrezza, because I thought maybe I was experiencing beginner’s luck – the thrill of any shiny new diabetes treatment can wear off pretty quickly – and given how controversial this drug is, I didn’t want to stir the pot unnecessarily.
But sorry Naysayers, Afrezza is the bomb. At least for me.
{I’d like to take a moment here to thank Sam Finta, aka @afrezzauser, for this insightful post warning investors off hounding us patients as we test the waters with this new drug – “Your financial good intentions to spread the message have blinded you to seeing there is a real person who will only trust and listen to a fellow warrior in the battle, and they (along with everyone they come into contact with) might reject or miss this “life-changing” drug based on your inappropriate behavior – can you blame them?”}
I’ve written about the advantages of using Afrezza for all your bolus needs while on an insulin pump, and I continue to enjoy those.
Today I’d like to share a little more detail about my own success with Afrezza. And we are hoping to share the experiences of other patients using it here at the ‘Mine soon, in a new series we’re calling “Afrezza in the Real World.”
No, I’m not a marketing shill for MannKind or Sanofi; my use of this drug was strictly the choice of my doctor and I, and I’ve had no dealings with those drug makers other than interviews we’ve done with company execs in the course of reporting the news.
I’ve simply become convinced that this first-ever operative non-invasive insulin has incredible potential to help everyone with diabetes.
The Joys of Rapidity
As I’ve noted, the rapid-on/rapid-off function of this insulin is a real game-changer, IMHO. I’ve heard people saying for years that our so-called “fast-acting” insulins are too slow, but I never realized how much that fact is the crux of struggling with the glucose roller-coaster until now.
When you suddenly have something that peaks within an hour, and is out of your system almost immediately thereafter, you become keenly aware that most of the highs and lows of the past were caused by peak insulin action not matching up with peak glucose absorption, and by the insulin lingering in your bloodstream long after you needed it.
In this 2009 interview I did with Al Mann, he explained that Afrezza essentially "turns off glucogenesis" so no glucose is secreted from the liver in reaction to food. For that reason, people with type 2 can use a set dose of Afrezza for meals and run essentially zero risk of lows no matter what the meal size, whereas type 1s “will still have the issue (of lows) if they dose and don't eat anything… and if they eat a large meal, they'll need a larger dose.”
“The advantage for all patients is that they won't have to do carb counting or anything, because Afrezza does not have to be so precisely matched to food intake,” he adds.
This, my friends, has proven 100% true for me, and it’s a HUGE life improvement to be relieved of all that math (and S.W.A.G. guessing).
More Time in Range
Simply put, Afrezza is helping me spend more time in range. My CGM screen now rarely shows the little dotted line going outside the borders of yellow for too-high and red for too-low. I’ve had whole days that remained in the white zone. And I’ve managed to do both a spin class and aerobics class starting at a “normal” blood sugar (100-ish) and ending there as well!
For these morning workouts, I’ve learned that it’s best to take my regular Afrezza breakfast dose, and then just shut off my pump (basal insulin) for the hour-long workout or use a deeply reduced temp basal.
I’m also using this tactic now to avoid going low when I need a small correction (from, say, 150-160 BG) and have no choice but to take 4 units of Afrezza.
My BIGGEST WISH with Afrezza is that there were a 2-unit option – which would be perfect for type 1s like me in need of correction doses, I believe.
On the flipside, I’ve found that when you are low(ish) after a meal or before a workout, you don’t need to panic as much as you did with subcutaneous insulin, when you just knew you were headed for a crash. Rather, I find it’s best to treat very mildly (tiny amount of sugar intake) and briefly (reduced temp basal for just half an hour) because that Afrezza will be out of your system in no time, allowing your BG to level off.
For the first two weeks of April, you can see that 73% of my recent glucose readings were between 70-160, which is a big win for me:
A Background Dilemma
One question other users have asked me – and I’ve been trying to work out myself – is what to do when your glucose level remains ideal or even a little low after an Afrezza-covered meal but then starts to slowly rise thereafter. I find that when this happens, it usually it peaks at about 185, so still not the crazy 200+ spikes I often experienced in the past, but what to do here, when you’re pretty darn sure that another full 4 units will drop you too low?
The only solution I’ve found so far is the one mentioned above: you go ahead and correct with the 4u of Afrezza, and then use a temp basal setting on your pump to dial back the full amount of insulin you’re getting in order to avoid a low.
But if you’re not on an insulin pump? I have no idea how you would handle this.
Some folks, including my own endo, have asked if it might be possible for folks like me to forgo using an insulin pump in the near future if Afrezza works so well. Based on what I just described, my answer is No. I still have the need to manipulate my background basal dose, to account for overcorrecting, exercise, and periods of higher insulin resistance, like PMS.
Frog in My Throat
One endocrinologist acquaintance of mine has been making skeptical faces at me whenever I say how much I like Afrezza; he’s still very concerned about the long-term effects on the lungs. And of course only time will tell how much this is an issue!
Back in 2009, Al Mann told us they’d been following some patients who’d already been using Afrezza for up to 5 years, and saw no change in their lungs. (They did high-definition CT scans on the 600 patients in their study.) That seems encouraging.
But I didn’t tell my endo friend that I’ve been experiencing a frog in the back of my throat and a bit of a cough. Since my nose has also been runny lately, I honestly can’t tell if it’s related to the Afrezza, and I hope with a passion it isn’t.
If anything else is giving me pause about this drug, it’s simply the concern that uptake seems to be slow among doctors. That’s what I’m hearing, anyway – about endos who are ‘meh’ about offering it to their patients. Which makes no sense to me.
Here we have the first-ever viable non-invasive insulin, that couldn’t be easier to teach or use, and that’s producing amazing results among early adopters. I know there’s some trepidation based on the past failure of Exubera, but Afrezza really is a whole new ballgame.
http://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/amazing-afrezza-non-invasive-insulin-works#1
Got it, thanks!
Thanks, Sharpei. I noticed this PR. What I do not know is if ELTP has received the FDA comments yet since Feb 17. (Well, to be honest, I have difficulty in understanding those PRs... and don't laugh at me)
May I ask which PR stated the PIII has begun?
NORTHVALE, N.J., Feb. 17, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Elite Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Elite" or the "Company") (OTCQB:ELTP) announced guidance today regarding the Company's Phase III trial for ELI-200, an abuse deterrent opioid product. Elite has submitted a study protocol to the FDA and dosing for the study is expected to begin shortly after the FDA comments on the protocol are received by Elite. The Company anticipates that it will receive the FDA comments by mid-March and that dosing will take approximately eight weeks to complete.
Correct me if I am wrong. Based on the most recent PR above, I do not think the PIII was ever started yet.
Market has yet to react to this PR. Really need solid volume to push the pps over $0.30.
BTW, I have a small position in this stock. GLTA.
No. My questions are for you but your answers are for all readers who read here.
Why would I listen to you? I never did,Trend. My decision is not based on your opinion.
Do not care if Hoodriver1 believe you or not. It's his opinion.
You took the time to write so much but not willing to spend the time to let readers (not just for me) know the link or even the detailed reference or source?
FDA has tons of reports .... all kind of different reports.... old and new...
I think a link to reference your specify "claims" would be a lot more credible than this. Don't you agree?
Thanks for helping us understand better how different Afrezza is from other insulins. No question this is a life changing drug for pts.
"Does Technosphering a drug produce lung cancer ?"
Trend, you do not seem to have any support of your query, other than FDA request for a study. BTW, what is the specific purpose of the study?
"So far MNKD has not done the study."? Your own speculation?
How do you know if the study has not commenced or not completed?
Same here. Just loaded more at $5.05....
Amy Tenderich keeps asking for 2U cartridge .....https://twitter.com/amydbmine
I agree Afrezza has the bright future for all of mankind, whether you are diabetes or not. I believe each of us do have friends or relatives being diabetes. Afrezza can help them improve quality of life, have normal social life.
Go take a look at daysofdiabetes (https://twitter.com/hashtag/dayofdiabetes?src=hash) to find out how they live and what difficulties they are having. I never knew until I read thru!
I wish this chart also presents the amount of money spent on the drug ($2.8 billion by Pfizer) and revenue generated ($2 billion).
BTW, not all of us know why EXUBERA was pulled
Part I :
Hi guys. I guess this is a much better place without BS here, right?
I always get incorrect facts and half truth about MNKD. Shorts are really desperate.
I guess I need Friends of MannKind.
http://investorshub.advfn.com/Friends-of-MannKInd-28962/
I have no problem with you posting Rx data as there are always investors (long or short, new or potential, or existing) would like to look at the historical data.
I am not concerned with the RX numbers until it's accumulated for at least 6 months to arrive with a statistically significant meaning. Whether Rx number is unexpectedly high or low this Friday, I am basically indifferent.
I really like this relationship management approach.
Well, I would say the downtrend cycle has just completed. Share price closed above MA10 and MA20, first time I have seen in 2015!
I strongly believe an uptrend is starting this week. GLTA!
Did Morning star elaborate such positive change?
"Look at transaction on 02/18. Same guy buy-in and bail-out on 02/23." Who is this guy you are referring to, Martens or Edstroms?
Companies that have buyback programs are mostly NOT having developments in a mature industry (they are just cash cows). MNKD is not the case here.
Potentiation of glucose elimination
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 9006175
Abstract:
Methods related to the treatment of diabetes and improving the efficiency of insulin utilization are provided. The method enables effective control of prandial glucose levels while reducing the risk of postprandial hypoglycemia. In particular, methods of potentiating the activity of endogenous insulin in type 2 diabetics and exogenous long-acting insulin in diabetics requiring basal insulin replacement are provided.
Inventors:
Boss, Anders Hasager (Princeton, NJ, US)
Steiner, Solomon S. (Mount Kisco, NY, US)
Woods, Rodney J. (New Hampton, NY, US)
Sulner, Joseph W. (Paramus, NJ, US)
Application Number:
11/329686
Publication Date:
04/14/2015
Filing Date:
01/10/2006
View Patent Images:
Download PDF 9006175 PDF help
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation
Assignee:
MannKind Corporation (Valencia, CA, US)
Primary Class:
514/5.9
Other Classes:
514/6.8, 514/6.9, 514/866, 424/489
International Classes:
A61K38/28; A61K9/72; A61P3/08; A61K9/00; A61K9/14
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/9006175.html
Paul Sinclair's newly established healthcare-focused fund, Blue Jay Capital Management posted an impressive 12% return during the first quarter, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) that rose by a mere 0.9% during the same period. The above metric for Blue Jay is based on the weighted average returns of all 23 holdings in the fund’s equity portfolio, based on their size at the beginning of the quarter, and may be different than the fund’s actual returns. Major components of that equity portfolio are Receptos Inc (NASDAQ:RCPT), Cooper Companies Inc (NYSE:COO), Centene Corp (NYSE:CNC), Biogen Inc (NASDAQ:BIIB) and MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD).
Paul Sinclair, with a MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, started his career at the investment bank Donaldson Luftkin & Jenrette. Later he moved to Merrill Lynch’s healthcare investment banking group before moving on to the hedge fund Vantis Capital Management in 2004, where he was in charge of the health science fund. After the firm closed in 2006, Sinclair set up his own shop, a health care equities fund called Expo Capital Management (by his fund’s names, Sinclair appears to be a fan of Canada’s baseball teams). The fund’s annual returns from 2007 through 2010 were 20%, 2.5%, 26% and 13%. The first slump came in 2011 as the fund lost some 8.7%. When the going got tougher and it fell another 6% by May of 2012, Sinclair thought it wise to liquidate his $458 million firm. This was the time of turbulent markets owing to Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and even strong company fundamentals couldn’t always save stock pickers. Following President Obama’s healthcare policies and the consequent surge in the healthcare sector, Sinclair thought it was an opportunity too good to pass up on. He decided to test the investment waters once again and fired up Blue Jay Capital’s engines in the fourth quarter of 2014. The market value of Blue Jay’s portfolio by the end of its debut quarter stood at $224.27 million.
We follow hedge funds because our research has shown that their stock picks historically managed to generate alpha even though the filings are 45 days delayed. We used a 60-day delay in our back tests to be on the safe side. Our research has shown that the 15 most popular small-cap stocks among hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Total Return Index by an average of 95 basis points per month between 1999 and 2012. After adjusting for risk, our calculations revealed that these stocks’ monthly alpha was 80 basis points. We have also been sharing and tracking the performance of these stocks since the end of August 2012. These stocks returned 132% over the last 2.5 years, outperforming the S&P 500 ETF by nearly 80 percentage points (see more details here).
......
The only loser in this list, MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD), dropped by 0.38% over the first quarter. Blue Jay’s stake in the $2.51 billion biopharmaceutical company amounted to 100,000 shares valued at $11.94 million. According to a recent downgrade by Goldman Sachs, revenues from the company’s inhaled diabetes drug, Afrezza, might have to face 40% discounts instead of the earlier 20% in light of the prevalent price pressure on diabetes drugs. John Paulson‘s Paulson & Co was the largest shareholder in MannKind Corporation (NASDAQ:MNKD) among the funds that we track.
Disclosure: None
http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/receptos-inc-rcpt-centene-corp-cnc-paul-sinclair-flying-high-with-new-funds-top-healthcare-picks-342825/
I really doubt that Paulson & Co was the largest shareholder in MannKind Corporation.