NorthWest Biotherapeutics Inc (NWBO)

[MI Dendream]

Yes, that is what Biogen originally thought about Spinraza but quickly realized they needed a massive effort to sell that drug. Without Spinraza tens of thousands of children with SMA would be dead or more permanently disabled on the path to death. Without the herculean effort from big biotech, Spinraza would have sat on the shelf of distributors until it expired and no new orders would be placed. That billion dollar investment would have been lost and IONS would be teetering on bankruptcy.

Spinraza to DCVax is a Honey Crisp to Golden Delicious comparison. There are only 600 pediatric muscular dystrophy specialists in the US. If it can’t happen by osmosis there, it can’t happen anywhere.

Great drugs don’t sell themselves. Physicians don’t have time or resources to figure it out themselves. Insurance companies don’t want to pay for squat either. Good luck getting your technology reimbursed without the experience, expertise and leverage.

I was once involved in a final meeting with the CEO and CMO of United Healthcare where we told them if they do not cover our drug any longer we will be funding and even advertising to encourage every single lawsuit against them. The drug saved lives, thousands of them each year which could be proven with data. I never saw a billionaire get so angry, at least before QANON existed. They changed coverage policy by the time I got back home.