Our marketing sucks; our ABLs have zero MS experience, our KOLs think we are a joke and we think our leader is a major joke. Gilenya going generic in 2 years and our market share is stagnant and has been since launch. I'm out if here! FU Novartis MSBU!
ABL's have zero MS experience? Most of the sales force are newbee's to the MS market. You're right, zero respect from our customers, but rightfully so. The RD's despise the reps with MS experience. They would rather plug-in a Novtard that has been displaced. Worst managed brand I have ever worked for.
Generic drugmakers win order invalidating Novartis MS drug patent By Brendan Pierson The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has invalidated a patent held by drugmaker Novartis AG related to its multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya on grounds of obviousness. Michael Levy of Kenyon & Kenyon, who advised generic drug maker Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd, the lead plaintiff in the case, said the decision issued last Thursday was noteworthy because it marked one of the first uses by drug companies of the USPTO's inter partes review process, which was established by the America Invents Act of 2011. To read the full story on WestlawNext Practitioner Insights, click here: bit.ly/1KPt2qQ (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York)
Health Canada warning on Gilenya safety 01-10-2015 Pharma regulatory agency Health Canada is informing Canadians that the drug label for the multiple sclerosis (MS) drug Gilenya (fingolimod) has been updated with new safety information on the risk of skin cancer, as well as a rare brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Gilenya, marketed by Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX), is a prescription drug used in the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis to reduce the frequency of attacks (relapses) and delay the progression of physical disability. It is specifically used when other MS treatments have not been effective or cannot be tolerated. Gilenya labelling already contained information on the possible risk of lymphoma, and warnings about how this drug reduces the body's ability to fight infection. It has been updated to include the risk of skin cancer and PML specifically, and to advise that patients and health professionals be vigilant for symptoms. Follows US PML warning The Canadian warning follows a similar one from the US Food and Drug Administration regarding a case of definite progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and a case of probable PML reported in patients taking Gilenya (The Pharma Letter August 5). Gilenya is an important drug for Novartis, having generated second-quarter revenues of around $700 million for the company. PML has long been a concern associated with the long-term use of MS drugs. Last year, the FDA added a similar warning on Biogen’s (Nasdaq: BIIB) MS therapy Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate).
This new data re: Roche drug (Ocrelizumab) looks impressive. What are thoughts on how it will effect this market? Doesn't bode well for us, huh?
Make sure you have your resume polished up...Genentech should be start filling field sales beginning of 2016. I can hear the Gilenya toilet flushing now.....down the drain it goes.
Funny!! Wonder how some segments of the usually otherwise "poor us..too many regulations" crowd feels now? Love them "anti-innovation laws" now, don't you !?
