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Of course I've been following the rapid decent of that stock. Too bad for shareholders over there. Go MNKD! Aloha.
It also seems that all recent hit pieces, are having less of an impact on MNKD.
The voracity of these whacko hit pieces have become so numerous and ridiculous, that most no longer pay any attention to these soon to be discredited "analysts," who have a coordinated agenda against MNKD and Afrezza.
Hold onto your shares my fellow Longs; for as Shorts sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind. Aloha.
You are always welcome to visit me on Kauai. Go MNKD! Aloha, Hypi.
Aloha Crew: New hit-piece just out, (an incredibly long blabber!), at 2:31 am EDT. Amazing to me that this tiny company garners so much attention! More than meets the eye here IMO. So, enjoy the latest from another ridiculous "stock analyst" for SA. http://seekingalpha.com/article/3552846-mannkind-weekly-data-updates-for-prescriptions
Fabulous response Kevin! Aloha.
Now that's funny Cave! Aloha.
With all due respect Conix. AF is known to all longs as the biggest basher out there, and he has absolutely no credibility with me at least, for his speculative articles that never should've been published in the first place. AF has had it in for MNKD since before clinical trials were even over. Mahalo for sharing though, I'm sure some here like him. Aloha.
I knew something was up over there. Great customer service from YMB. Not even a notice. Real nice.
GB wins. 4 - 0 now...
Well stated Tyfoidhana. Aloha.
On the Afrezza sales front, which has been quiet in recent weeks, with the number of prescriptions staying stagnant, management remains very optimistic, pointing out the following:
1. The hurdle of spirometry testing has diminished greatly, with actions taken by Sanofi making it far less of a "gating" factor than it was in the early months.
2. Direct-to-consumer marketing began in July, with print ads for Afrezza in some high-circulation magazines, including Time Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Diabetes Forecast.
3. The two partners recently agreed to significantly increase the budget for marketing.
4. Sanofi recently expanded the number of sales people promoting Afrezza and launched a targeted in-office promotion campaign as well as 1200 reps gathered in Las Vegas for Afrezza training.
5. Insurance reimbursement remains the biggest impediment to increasing the number of prescriptions written, but this problem should attenuate in the months ahead since insurance companies typically start to make permanent formulary decisions some six months after the introduction of a new drug and Afrezza has passed that important threshold.
So, the three hurdles - spirometry testing, insurance coverage and patient (and physician) awareness - to Afrezza sales in the early post-launch months are slowly falling. Significantly, too, management indicated that Sanofi is actively investigating the best approach to introducing Afrezza into international markets. Although no specifics were provided, Sanofi is apparently conducting research into the possibility of drawing up a "global marketing plan," as opposed to picking out individual geographic markets, Europe, for example. According to Matthew Pfeffer, the company's CFO, the preparations are nearing completion and are to be revealed to MannKind at the next Afrezza committee meeting.
Do you think a judge will declare BOA bankrupt Cave?
Isn't it nice being retired Y47! We can relax with our holding in MNKD, not worry about generating an income stream in some boiler room, and just enjoy life. Aloha.
Aloha Crew: Sanofi is not going anywhere.
At a June 10th Healthcare Conference sponsored by Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street powerhouse's analyst, who has a "sell" rating on MNKD, publicly asked the company's executives about Sanofi's options for terminating its Afrezza agreement with MannKind.
It was an odd question on so many levels, not least of all coming so soon after the marketing partner had highlighted the product at the early-June American Diabetes Association convention in Boston.
The provocative question is also noteworthy in that the answer is available in black and white in multiple MannKind filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which the analyst would presumably have reviewed; the agreement is spelled out in considerable detail, including conditions that could lead to breakup of the partnership. In any case, the question dovetailed well with the bears' argument, both before and since, that Sanofi may decide to abandon Afrezza due to poor sales.
The bears arguments are weak and w/o any substance. Hold onto your shares my fellow-investors and don't let the detractors pull you down. You will be rewarded handsomely for your patience.
Aloha Roblorane, and welcome to the i-hub Board.
IMO, Mannkind investors should stop obsessing about the weekly prescription data and every minute-to-minute tick of the stock price. Sanofi's game plan is undoubtedly measured in years, and it has an impressive history of marketing new products, unlike all of us armchair experts who are disappointed with every weekly scripts figure.
With regards to the stock price, it's abundantly clear, from changes in the short interest, changes in the number of shares available for shorting on a daily basis, and changes in the interest rate being charged/paid to borrow shares, that the short sellers remain a major factor in the daily fluctuations. The day-to-day changes are of little consequence to investors, so letting the price changes affect your investment strategy (and blood pressure) makes very little sense.
True Longs already know what they have, as does Sanofi. Take it to the bank Crew! Aloha.
The notion of Sanofi abandoning Afrezza is absurd on so many levels. The large marketing partner is spending millions of dollars more on lunches/dinners where healthcare providers are being educated. 1200 Sanofi reps were recently in Las Vegas for Afrezza sales training. Preparations for clinical trials that would enhance the drug's label, and thus the commercial potential, are ongoing. Advertising just began. And the inhaled insulin has yet to be introduced to other geographic markets. Given all of this investment, in terms of money, time, and effort, along with the product's massive sales potential, why would Sanofi even consider walking away from the agreement? LoL!
Elevated A1C levels are strongly associated with a host of health complications including; nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy, while macrovascular complications are primarily manifested by atherosclerosis and resulting cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in diabetics.
And, since less than 50% of people with Type 1 diabetes achieve target-recommended A1c levels, and the overwhelming majority of Type 2 diabetics never return to pre-diabetic or non-diabetic A1C levels, the success now being demonstrated by Afrezza users may be an indication of the potential impact on the diabetic community, as early adopters are posting A1C results better than they have ever previously had in their lives!
Afrezza is a true miracle drug and the world is slowly discovering that. Aloha.
Investors need to ignore the temporary problems currently associated with the company and stay focused on the long-term picture, which will be the best way to maximize profit in their MannKind investment. The price per share will likely continue to move up and down in a trading cycle as it has been doing for the last several months, for the foreseeable future. And while Afrezza is not yet proven financially successful in the marketplace, the idea that patients would rather inhale an insulin which provides a superior A1C result, than inject their insulin, is exactly on what the company and investors are betting.
It is very likely that a greater number of people will soon be using Afrezza as Sanofi's direct-to-consumer marketing campaign gains momentum this autumn. Additional users could mean more enthusiastic supporters reporting their improved A1C numbers. Added users should also mean more sales, more profits, and a significant step forward for the company in capturing a toe hold in this multi-billion dollar market. But it will take many months before results of the DTC campaign filter through into the sales figures reported by Sanofi and MannKind.
Aloha Crew: From an investment perspective, it's important to focus on the following points: Investors who buy shares now in MannKind are investing in a new paradigm. The upside is that there is a huge need for a better insulin and delivery system for the diabetic community and Afrezza can meet this need. Afrezza inhaled insulin works better than injected insulin. Afrezza is easier to use.
And, Afrezza may be just the first of many new drugs developed using MannKind's patented Technosphere inhaler delivery device.
Afrezza is a winner. Remember why you invested my fellow Longs, and hold onto your shares!
Early adopters are endorsing Afrezza as a superior new insulin, not only because it is inhaled, but more so because Afrezza is responsible for drastically improved A1C blood glucose levels. But those improved A1C numbers are directly connected to the fact that Afrezza is inhaled because Afrezza works much faster through the lungs than injected subcutaneous insulin through the skin, thus eliminating excessive blood glucose significantly more quickly.
Although early adopters appreciate the ease of use associated with the Afrezza inhaler, ultimately, it is the quality of the results that they achieve in using Afrezza that keep early adopters enthusiastic.
Diabetics will eventually gladly learn that Afrezza is the best at controlling sugars. It is the only insulin that mimics the human pancreas’s insulin. Once people see it that way (by legal label claims), they’ll be even more thrilled that they don’t have to inject it either.
While the short term share price can be frustrating, you can most assuredly take solace in the fact that Sanofi isn’t spending too much to need results now. They can afford to wait until everything is aligned. In fact, that’s exactly what they’re doing, and what they should be doing! Aloha.
Afrezza is deliberately being slow-launched, into the diabetic community, in order to educate Endos and secure Tier 2 insurance coverage. There is no point wasting a ton of $ on DTC advertising if insurance coverage is weak, which admittedly still is at this time. However even now, more Afrezza ads are coming out all the time, and TV spots are soon to follow. That can only mean IMO that Tier 2 coverage is close at-hand.
Sanofi, a global giant in Diabetes treatment, is knowledgeable, skilled, and highly successful. Their sales reps are highly trained with a global reach. Sanofi knows what they're doing; and what they've got with Afrezza.
Mannkind's remarkable achievement of securing Sanofi as their global partner means the future success of Afrezza is assured. This is what BP is so afraid of; Afrezza is going to change the way diabetics worldwide relate to and treat their disease. Take that to the bank my fellow Longs.
And let's remind ourselves Crew, that MNKD has billionaire founder, Dr. Al Mann on our side of the table. It's always nice to have a Billionaire in one's corner I would surmise.
Does anyone here seriously believe that after more than a Decade and nearly $1B of Al's own cash invested into MNKD, that he is going to allow Mannkind to fail over a few million?!! So ridiculous to think otherwise. Aloha.
Welcome to the board PB55. Aloha.
There's tons of info out there on actual Afrezza users, and the overwhelming majority love the product. It's always best to do your own DD, but here's a site where you can started. GLTY. Aloha. http://www.afrezzajustbreathe.com
The one and only! It's nice to see Kevinmik here. I always enjoy his posts. Aloha King.
Dr. Alfred Mann whose namesake company, has Afrezza to offer the world.
Dr. Mann owns 42%? of the company if I recall. He's got skin in the game. His history is that he has provided money to the company in the past so to keep MNKD in fight for FDA Approal as his priority. This was accomplished. Dr. Mann further partnered with Sanofi (the leading pharmaceutical in Diabetes) with delivery to 121 countries. This is why we have been seeing Afrezza Ads from Africa, Brazil China Austrail Canada etc. Sanofi was necessary to substantiate MNKD against the attacks we are from unjustifiably getting from Cramer and crew. Diabetes is a Quarter Trillion Biz; which BP's do you think won't fight for market retention? So it takes time; Afrezza success will launch, will fortify, and launch Technosphere; something much bigger than Afrezza. Aloha.
Aloha Kevin: Great info. Mahalo for posting this!
Welcome to the board Kevin. I've seen you around and have always enjoyed reading your posts, as I do this one! Technosphere is a winner. Aloha.
Keep making it your business to spread the word in the medical community TH. It does matter and will make a difference. We all need to be doing our utmost, in our own way, to spread the good news of Afrezza, and how it will change the way diabetes is treated throughout the world! Aloha.
I hope all here have an enjoyable, relaxing weekend. It's always fun conversing with you. Aloha.
Use the new label/clamp study results to gain Tier 2 insurance coverage.
Imagine you’ve seen a TV ad for Afrezza and you visit your doctor (before the above step is complete). Consider the following scenarios and how they would present barriers to prescriptions/renewals.
• What if your doctor hasn’t heard of Afrezza yet? There are many drugs and it takes time to learn.
• What if your doctor does some research and isn’t impressed by the FDA trial results? Will he/she prescribe?
• Suppose your doctor has heard of Afrezza. Suppose he prescribes! What happens if your insurance doesn’t cover it?
• What happens when the samples run out and it’s too expensive to continue
All of these scenarios can negatively affect your opinion on whether to continue/get started. If Sanofi is able to complete the 3rd step (above) before your first real impression (with the doctor) happens, the chances of success are much higher.
It's all coming together Crew! Aloha.
Once the label is improved, (via positive results from the CLAMP Study, coming very soon), insurance coverage will be easier to gain. Less complications from diabetes (cuz of lower A1C’s) means less insurance claims and more profit, so insurance companies will undoubtedly cover it.
Once insurance coverage and the label is improved, TV ads will start (and not a second sooner). This will ensure that the dollars spent on advertising is used as efficiently as possible.
Many like me, feel all of this is close. However, the exact timing remains to be seen. Aloha.
Sanofi is strategically waiting before it advertises too much. It makes sense.
Why would Sanofi spend millions of dollars advertising a product that Endos don't even know about, and that has a label which isn't allowed to speak of Afrezzas main benefits (yet)...
I think they are waiting to fix both of these issues before injecting their money into advertising this bad boy. And once that happens you can be certain of an explosion in PPS.
Good news + required short covering... it's going to be massive. Absolutely massive.
I believe Sanofi currently spending minimal $'s on Afrezza advertising right now because the patient's experience isn't greatest yet (high cost, insurance claims, pre-authorizations, tests, etc.), and the claims they’re legally allowed to make aren’t that impressive yet.
All of this about to change Crew. Dr. Al Mann secured us a top-tier partner with Global reach and Sanofi is about to really flex its muscles! Watch and learn. Aloha.
AFREZZA® - A First-in-class Ultra Rapid-Acting Insulin
AFREZZA® (pronounced uh-FREZZ-uh) is a first-in-class, ultra rapid-acting mealtime insulin therapy being developed to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is a drug-device combination product, consisting of AFREZZA Inhalation Powder single use dose cartridges, and the small, discreet and easy-to-use AFREZZA inhaler.
As the shorts become even more desperate than they already are, expect the howls of how horrible Afrezza is to reach a feverish pitch. I'll have plenty of popcorn on-hand to enjoy the show. This is gonna be good Crew! Remember: Keep the vision to become the Visionary that Dr. Al Mann already is!
My oh my...such a lovely close today. Let's hope we get some good news next week and keep this going. So much good news is on the close horizon and many here are anxiously waiting. All in good time as we Long investors know! Aloha.
Aloha Crew: Once the CLAMP study is completed, (due anytime now!!). and the results show what we’re expecting (much fewer hypo events, large reductions in HbA1C values, etc), then the label will most certainly change for the better – allowing Sanofi to make bold, gripping claims.
A TV commercial that can make claims as bold as “significant a1c reduction” & “much less risk of going hypoglycemic” will most certainly send the patients to the doctors, as well as force doctors to do their own due diligence.
This is our future Crew; Afrezza spreading around the Globe, helping millions upon millions of diabetics. What an honor to be associated with Dr. Al Mann, founder of MNKD, and leading the world into a revolutionary new way to treat diabetes!