Osteoporosis Treatment

Your knowledge hub for osteoporosis….

Archive for the 'Osteo Gossip' Category


Another osteoporosis drug manufacturer plans job cuts (GlaxoSmithKline, Boniva)

Posted by Dr.Osteo on October 24, 2007

The list of big pharma companies cutting jobs this year continues to increase and among this list the number of osteoporosis manufacturers is also increasing. Today we received confirmation that GSK will cut jobs.

Speculations on the GSK CafePharma board guess there will be 1,000 jobs cut.

” We know now that whoever redneck larry is that he does not work for gsk. Because if he did and he had access to the intranet to hear chris viebachers talk on there that we are indeed laying people off!!! Granted its nowhere near as bad as originally thought by most. He said 1000 jobs of which 500 have been handled by not filling positions. Plus 100 mdm/dsm positions and 250 in house people. So 500 out of work reps on both sides of the company is not bad. There are 24 regions on each side so that equals out to 2 reps per region on both sides. Not bad…Redneck larry, how do you say these are not layoffs???”

Oct. 24 (Bloomberg) — GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Europe’s largest drugmaker, reported third-quarter profit fell 5.8 percent as its Advair asthma treatment and Avandia diabetes pill lost sales to competing medicines.

Global job cuts will be necessary to reduce expenses by 700 million pounds ($1.43 billion) by 2010, London-based Glaxo said today in a statement, declining to specify how many positions would be affected. The earnings missed estimates, and the stock fell as much as 2.3 percent.

Avandia sales dropped 38 percent after a May 21 New England Journal of Medicine report linked the drug to a higher heart attack risk. The medicine was Glaxo’s second-best seller in 2006, bringing in $3.3 billion. Sales of Glaxo’s best-selling drug, Advair, gained 7 percent to 835 million pounds, compared with a 34 percent increase for AstraZeneca Plc’s rival Symbicort.

“The market is all geared toward the cost control measures,” Nick Turner, an analyst at Mirabaud Securities in London, who rates Glaxo “neutral,” said in a telephone interview. “If you dissect through that and look at the top line growth, it’s pretty anemic really.”

Net income declined to 1.31 billion pounds ($2.68 billion), or 23.5 pence a share, from 1.39 billion pounds, or 24.4 pence, a year earlier, Glaxo said today in the statement. The earnings missed the median estimate of 24 pence a share of 12 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Revenue dropped to 5.48 billion pounds from 5.64 billion pounds.

Shares Fall

Glaxo shares fell 29 pence, or 2.3 percent, to 1,231 pence at 1:21 p.m. in London. The stock has fallen 8.5 percent this year. The U.K. drugmaker raised its dividend for the full year 10 percent to 53 pence a share.

The drugmaker will determine the size and structure of the job cuts after consulting with employees, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Pierre Garnier said on a conference call with reporters. Sales forces in growth areas such as vaccines and cancer treatments may expand while those for products for chronic diseases, where sales are slowing, will be trimmed, he said.

About 40 percent of the 700 million-pound savings will come from manufacturing, and 40 percent from selling and administration, Glaxo said. The remainder will come from research and development. Manufacturing of Glaxo medicines no longer protected by patents may be moved to lower-cost countries, and workforces there expanded, Garnier said.

Restructuring Charges

The reductions will generate 350 million pounds in pretax savings next year, partly mitigating the impact to earnings from generic competition and lower Avandia sales, Glaxo said. The pharmaceutical company will take charges of about 1.5 billion pounds from 2007 to 2010 because of the restructuring.

The company expects the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to decide on its Cervarix vaccine for cervical cancer by Jan. 28 and on Gepirone ER for depression and Requip XL for Parkinson’s disease this year.

In the third quarter, the agency delayed or failed to approve new versions of Glaxo’s Requip for restless leg syndrome, Imitrex for migraines and Lamictal for epilepsy.

“The FDA is more hesitant in taking a stand on new medicines and this is overall a negative factor for the industry and for GSK,” Garnier said in an interview. “This slowdown is creating problems for all the companies. We have to adjust to this environment.”

Articles of interest

- Novartis cuts 1,260 U.S. jobs

- Is Roche next to cut jobs? 

- 5 simple steps on how to sell more drugs

Posted in Company News, Osteo Gossip | Tagged: , , , , , , | No Comments »

DXA Reimbursement Reductions: Implications for Quality Osteoporosis Care

Posted by drboneloss on October 21, 2007

Impact of Medicare Policy on Patient Access to Quality Osteoporosis Care
On October 9, 2007 a successful national Webcast was hosted entitled “DXA Reimbursement Reductions: Implications for Quality Osteoporosis Care.” The DXA Webcast PowerPoint presentation is now available for viewing (link below). In addition, we invite you to share the these slides with other physicians and your patients in an effort to educate them on this crisis. 

The program was moderated by Ethel Sirus, MD, President of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Two members from the ISCD Board of Directors participated including Marjorie Luckey, MD who shared her story of the impact of DXA cuts on her Center and Andrew Laster, MD who responded to many questions submitted by the online audience.

DXA Webcast PowerPoint Presentation

October 9, 2007

Highlights and implications:

  • Medicare Physician Fee Schedule changes

  • “Deficit Reduction Act” changes

  • Reduced reimbursement 75% - from approximately $140 to $35 by 2010

These actions may seriously limit patient access to osteoporosis diagnosis and management using DXA

This information and other resources are also posted in the Grassroots Resources section of the ISCD Advocacy Web site.  The ISCD Advocacy Web site is open to all visitors.  Colleagues and patients can register on the ISCD Advocacy Web site and send letters to Congress with a few mouse clicks.

 

The DXA Bill is Here - Act Now

Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV) is introducing the “Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act of 2007.”  The bill will freeze DXA rates at 2006 levels until a study of the effect of these cuts on patient care is completed.  At this time, Rep. Berkley needs the support of her Congressional colleagues to give this bill added momentum.  Please contact your Congressional Representative and urge them to sign on as an original co-sponsor to this important piece of legislation.  Visit the ISCD Advocacy Web site now, login (or register) and “Take Action”.  It only takes a few minutes to help.

Go to the ISCD Advocacy Web site

 

ISCD and DXA Task Force Met with CMS Officials Regarding DXA Cuts

On August 28, 2007 representatives from ISCD, NOF, AACE, TES and ACOG met with CMS officials regarding the damaging affects of the DXA cuts on patient care. ISCD Vice-President Dr. Andrew Laster, AACE President Dr. Richard Hellman and staff from the Lewin Group made a presentation aimed at restoring reimbursement for DXA services to appropriate levels. The timing of the meeting was critical; proposed Medicare rules that will continue the 4-year phase in of cuts to central DXA reimbursement will become final in early November 2007. Public comment regarding the proposed rules were due on August 31. In addition to filing formal written comments, ISCD and our partners wanted to make sure that Medicare officials understood the urgency of the problem. We delivered a clear message to CMS: the cuts will effectively dismantle the osteoporosis care infrastructure in the United States and will undermine Medicare prevention efforts.

The meeting focused on the results of a study regarding the cost of performing DXA in the office setting.  ISCD, AACE, TES and ACRheum commissioned the Lewin Group, a premier Washington health care firm, to perform the study which was conducted in July. 163 respondents representing primary care and specialists who perform DXA in the office or non-facility setting submitted complete responses with detailed confidential financial information. The Lewin Group calculated that the median DXA cost per procedure was $134, far exceeding the current rate of reimbursement. Lewin staff presented the following key findings to CMS officials:

  • Eighty-six percent of respondents are not reimbursed adequately for DXA under the 2007 fee schedule.
  • No physician will be reimbursed adequately for DXA when reimbursement drops to $35 in 2010.
  • Proposed legislation to freeze DXA at 2006 rates ($140) would save Medicare $1.145 billion after taking into consideration the savings associated with avoiding future fractures.

On August 31, 2007, ISCD filed formal comments with CMS regarding the cuts to DXA that began in 20007 and will continue to be phased in over the next four years. Click on the link below to view ISCD’s formal comments.  A complete copy of the ISCD comments to CMS can also be found in the Grassroots section of the ISCD Advocacy Web site.  Click here to visit that site now.

ISCD Comments to CMS - August 31, 2007

Posted in Drug Warnings, Osteo Gossip, Osteoporosis Treatment and/or Prevention, Reimbursement, Treatment News, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

“Why my Doctors are telling me they will not write Reclast!!!” Part II

Posted by Dr.Osteo on October 17, 2007

Follow up of “Why my Doctors are telling me they will not write Reclast!!!” Part I

A supposedly Novartis Manager said

90% on Medicare patients have secondary insurance and that will bring the cost of Reclast way down for those patients.
As for the poster that stated about buying Zometa in bulk. Seems like a good idea but don’t really think it will be done in theory unless you have a huge number of infusions done at one time and you have the means to mix and measure etc. Seems kind of like FRAUD to me!!

If you all are Novartis reps , shouldn’t you want this drug to do well as opposed to looking for reasons that It won’t. Certain we are all realistic with the facts but for the bottom line of this company and your jobs you should hope any new drug does well

Sales Rep,

I very much appreciate the Manager who posted the 90 % information about the medicare population having a supplemental. However, Mr. Manager you better understand what you are talking about before you spout of 90 % have a supplemental.

1. Most of the supplemental only handle drugs.
2. I know Reclast is a drug.
3. Reclast is covered under Medicare Part B and not Medicare D.
4. So most supplementals will not help.

I do understand that Medicare plans can very greatly, but most will not help additionally with this drug. So once again the cost of Reclast will be $ 240 to 480.

However I do find it funny that you obviously believe everything the company tells you, and never actually go out and find out the facts.

As far as going out an selling this drug that is what I am paid to do. So that is exactly what I am doing everyday. However, since you obviously are not aware of all the facts you might want to get out from behind your desk, and go out truly understand the facts on how much this drug is going to cost the patients. Instead spewing out your little gems about 90 % have supplemental.

I posted this information so we as reps no the facts. Since the company is trying to keep our heads in the sand. We need to know what we need to say to the Dr’s that we are calling on everyday.

Sales Rep 2

OP is right. I think this is an amazing drug and I for one will do very well with it but not without my fair share of hurdles. Sometimes ignorance is bliss but not in this case. Remember, this is new to the company and they still have no idea what they are doing or how to market it. There will be more changes as we discover more and more hurdles. I want my mom on this but face it, there is nothing in it for the doctors b ut to help the patient and in this sad medical time, that is just not enough for a doctor. We are asking them to take a chance financially and that means more to them than anything. They are for the most part money hungry pigs looking to see what they can get from the industry. Think about how they give you a hard time over the lunches we bring or the wrong coffee or not taking them out enough to the restaurants of their choice with the $200 bottles of wine. Think they will front the money for us or the patient when they can write a script with no hassle? some will, many wont,,,,, in time, for my jobs sake, I hope they will come on board. DOn’t be so close minded not to keep this good information in your head. You never know when you may be able to usefully use this information.

Articles of interest
Why my doctors will not prescribe Reclast!!!

FDA warning on Reclast

Recruiting clinical trials with Reclast

Posted in Osteo Gossip | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Novartis will refund the cost of Reclast (zoledronic acid) to payors if drug doesn’t work treating osteoporosis

Posted by Dr.Osteo on October 15, 2007

Novartis tries again an old market strategy in Germany to sell a novel product (Aclasta/Reclast) . Novartis will “refund medication costs of Aclasta/Reclasta in case of treatment failure one year after Aclasta aplication”. What is failure? “Osteoporotic fracture within 1 year”

Will this strategy work? We don’t know but it does send a clear message of commitment to payors who have to remove several “hassles for prescribers” in order for Reclast to compete in the saturated osteoporosis market acording to a Novartis presentation.
Articles of interest

Why my doctors will not prescribe Reclast!!!

FDA warning on Reclast

Recruiting clinical trials with Reclast

Posted in Osteo Gossip, Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Aclasta, Zometa) | Tagged: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

“Why my Doctors are telling me they will not write Reclast!!!” Part I

Posted by Dr.Osteo on October 13, 2007

Cafepharma can a be a great place to find gossip regarding pharmaceutical companies and products. Here is a post from a Reclast sales representative that opened a great discussion on the hurdles that Reclast is facing in the market place. Is this true or not,? I’m not sure but your insights are welcome – leave a comment below.

“I am going to spell out the facts to my idiot counter parts in the company. I am going to you a simple education into the finances of medicine. Hope the fools that dont understand this continue going to launch meetings, and believing every thing that the Power Points tell us.

The following is why my Doctors are telling me they will not write Reclast!!!!

Here are the facts,

1. Most patients that will recieve Reclast are older, and a large percentage are on a fixed income.
2. Ask your grandmother if she is ready to write a check for $ 240 to $ 480 dollars for a drug. In one lump check.
3. This drug does not come with any thing, but the drug. I know that is obvious, but the tubing is around $ 6.00 to $ 8.00 per patient.
4. No supplier in the country McKesson, Cardinal, Hospira sell the tubing in individual units. They all sell them by the case. Most case are 48 to 120 depending on the supplier.
5. A doctor is going to have to spend on the low side $ 300.00 on the tubing.
6. With a reimbursement rate of approximatley $ 75.00 for the CPT code 90765. The doctor will have lose money on the first 5 Patients. Just on the tubing. Not including his general over head. IE Nursing
7. Now they have to sit on the tubing waiting for the appropriate patient.
8. The prior Authorization on these types of drugs, usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
9. An MA costs us about $ 12 to $ 15 an hour so it costs us about $ 6 to
$ 7.50 just to give the patient the drug. This does not include their insurance or any other ancillary expenses.
10 . Then they have to call the patient to let them know the drug is going to cost them $ 240 to $ 480 for the prescription. If the patient says no they make nothing.
11. On top of all of that they have to spend about $ 1000.00 just to bring the drug into the clinice.
12. The 6 % mark up is not always Gauranteed. It usually takes 45 to 60 to reimbursed the $ 1060.00. http://www.osteoporosisblogger.com
13. If you have a $ 1000.00 and you loan it to a friend and he says he will give you $ 60.00 plus $ 1000.00 for $ 1060.00 60 days later what are you going to say? Oh yeah and he is going to subtract $ 6.00 for his hassles. IE the cost of the tubing.
14. So when all is said and done they have spent close to $ 300.00 on tubing, and a $ 1000.00 per patient on the drug.
15. If the Dr. puts 5 patients a month on Reclast the Dr has spent $ 5,0000 in just drug costs. Or i could take the $ 5,000 and put it in a simple 5 % interest account. I make $ 250 a year with no worries. Or I put a bunch of patients of Reclast, and just one of the 60 patients in the year has an insurance issue. I lose money or at best case i break even.
16. Who wants the risk. http://www.osteoporosisblogger.com

I was trying to give you all a heads up as to what you can expect in the market place. I was always taught that knowledge is power. So I hope this helps.

You all can say what you want, but these are the facts. Remember not everyone has money just sitting in their accounts to spend. They also need to eat, pay bills.

Now you can all make fun of my grammer or spelling, and not pay attention to the financial facts.

Sincerly,
An enlighten Reclast Rep!!!!”

Click here for “Why my Doctors are telling me they will not write Reclast!!!” Part II

is reclast an expensive drug, is reclast an expensive drug, is reclast aosteoporosis reclast side effectsn expensive drug
Other Articles of Interest

      - 5 simple steps on how to sell more drugs
- FDA warning on Reclast
- Recruiting clinical trials with Reclast

Posted in Osteo Gossip, Zoledronic acid (Reclast, Aclasta, Zometa) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »