Linzess reps - quit shutting down the GI clinics

[Anonymous]

I sell a biologic not a constipation med. I'm posting on here because I'm sick and tired of Ironwood and Forest's shit, hurting access for the rest of us in GI. GI clinics are shutting down all over the country because of the Linzess reps. I've had 2 in my territory shut down because of you guys. Is it really necessary to send 4 reps in that carry the same drug and be in every GI clinic twice a week? After all, this is a constipation med..

 

[Anonymous]

This needs to be said more, all companies are not the same but yet we are all lumped into the same category. When a few bad apples ruin an office, we all suffer. Once the office is closed its hard if not impossible to get it back open in the short term. I've heard negative things about forests aggressive or annoying tactics.

 

[Anonymous]

This needs to be said more, all companies are not the same but yet we are all lumped into the same category. When a few bad apples ruin an office, we all suffer. Once the office is closed its hard if not impossible to get it back open in the short term. I've heard negative things about forests aggressive or annoying tactics.

Forest Rep Here...ugh, it's a pile of shit and makes little to no sense how things operate.

Ironwood rep(s) in my territory
My counter part
My FSR
Myself.

All with a 4 week call cycle and all sampling and all with the same messaging.

It's frustrating.

 

[Anonymous]

Forest PC Rep here - "Are you implying that I shouldn't show up at the same GI office multiple times in the same week? Now, I realize that we already have a specialty rep going EVERY WEEK, as well as an Ironwood rep, and they know these targets better than I ever will, but my boss told me to see wall of my A targets and I might make double-bonus by incessantly bothering these big targets!" You are frigging pathetic.

 

[Anonymous]

I administer a large GI practice, and quite frankly every drug rep is a pain in the ass. There is no respect for clinic operating hours anymore...no respect for providers...no respect for patients...there is only the quota for the drug. The expanding regions of coverage make it difficult for reps to call on an office during a lunch or a time when patient volume is low. I operate our office fairly...reps are welcome during our lunch hours. Show up any other time and you are turned away. If at any time you are a pompous asshole you are turned away. If you come seeking signatures but are too stupid to manage your budget and can't provide lunch you are turned away. One rep per company per week and that's it. Works great...and the providers don't have to feel like they are being accosted by a slimy used car dealer. The reps who have complied are very happy. Our providers remain on the target list for those who have not due to the volume of scripts that go out.

 

[Anonymous]

Forest PC Rep here - "Are you implying that I shouldn't show up at the same GI office multiple times in the same week? Now, I realize that we already have a specialty rep going EVERY WEEK, as well as an Ironwood rep, and they know these targets better than I ever will, but my boss told me to see wall of my A targets and I might make double-bonus by incessantly bothering these big targets!" You are frigging pathetic.

Agreed. OP is pathetic and doesn't understand. I can make a 18k bonus on Linzess and have the GI's on my target panel. Don't really care what happens to biologic reps while I'm visiting the GI's. Don't even know what the hell a biologic is, but whatever.

 

[Anonymous]

I sell a biologic not a constipation med. I'm posting on here because I'm sick and tired of Ironwood and Forest's shit, hurting access for the rest of us in GI. GI clinics are shutting down all over the country because of the Linzess reps. I've had 2 in my territory shut down because of you guys. Is it really necessary to send 4 reps in that carry the same drug and be in every GI clinic twice a week? After all, this is a constipation med..

Honestly who cares who is on your call panel ... Do you think that GI is looked at as any different than primary care in pharma sales? On the Resume it's a constipation pill pushing a prescription.. Nobody is going to view you as special because you call on GI .. Most people see GI and PC as the same unless you're selling scopes !

 

[Anonymous]

I administer a large GI practice, and quite frankly every drug rep is a pain in the ass. There is no respect for clinic operating hours anymore...no respect for providers...no respect for patients...there is only the quota for the drug. The expanding regions of coverage make it difficult for reps to call on an office during a lunch or a time when patient volume is low. I operate our office fairly...reps are welcome during our lunch hours. Show up any other time and you are turned away. If at any time you are a pompous asshole you are turned away. If you come seeking signatures but are too stupid to manage your budget and can't provide lunch you are turned away. One rep per company per week and that's it. Works great...and the providers don't have to feel like they are being accosted by a slimy used car dealer. The reps who have complied are very happy. Our providers remain on the target list for those who have not due to the volume of scripts that go out.

You want me to feed your fat ass too?

 

[Anonymous]

Admin-relax things aren't that bad.

 

[Anonymous]

Agreed. OP is pathetic and doesn't understand. I can make a 18k bonus on Linzess and have the GI's on my target panel. Don't really care what happens to biologic reps while I'm visiting the GI's. Don't even know what the hell a biologic is, but whatever.

Not surprised that you are completely missing the point. Linzess use is not growing in these GI offices because you are going in there, but rather in spite of the fact that you are going in there. The fact that you have absolutely zero business acumen and no concern for how your all too frequent visits cause a negative impression of you and your products on the practitioners and staff lends itself to how ineptitude.

 

[Anonymous]

Forest Rep Here...ugh, it's a pile of shit and makes little to no sense how things operate.

Ironwood rep(s) in my territory
My counter part
My FSR
Myself.

All with a 4 week call cycle and all sampling and all with the same messaging.

It's frustrating.

I have to do a 2 week call cycle on the GI's, so is my FSR and my Ironwood rep. Something's got to give, these GI's are getting sick of us but I'm going to keep going so long as I'm told to do it. I'm sure next year we'll be shutting down cardio clinics again when the valsartan bystolic combo is approved.

 

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight. You understand that your "third wheel" act is having a negative impact on your product, which in turn hurts you when it comes to bonus $$$ and you are still going to go into these GI offices because somebody told you to do it? Brilliant! How about you tell your boss that these offices are already overloaded, so you are going to turn your attention to PC offices and grow business for all of your products with high potential IM's? Now, you might even sound like you have a f$&king clue!

 

[Anonymous]

I sell a biologic not a constipation med. I'm posting on here because I'm sick and tired of Ironwood and Forest's shit, hurting access for the rest of us in GI. GI clinics are shutting down all over the country because of the Linzess reps. I've had 2 in my territory shut down because of you guys. Is it really necessary to send 4 reps in that carry the same drug and be in every GI clinic twice a week? After all, this is a constipation med..

I love you today like a brother and will pray for you from this day forward..... God Bless You....this drug is doing well and I'm sorry you have sorrowful feelings toward us

 

[Anonymous]

I sell a biologic not a constipation med. I'm posting on here because I'm sick and tired of Ironwood and Forest's shit, hurting access for the rest of us in GI. GI clinics are shutting down all over the country because of the Linzess reps. I've had 2 in my territory shut down because of you guys. Is it really necessary to send 4 reps in that carry the same drug and be in every GI clinic twice a week? After all, this is a constipation med..

I hear ya. It's not so much that they're there, it's the way these walking billboards do business. They show up with countless visual aids that are 18 pages long, expect docs to sit there and listen as they drone on page after page. Not once trying to learn what's important to the doctor because they know nothing about GI and they don't care to learn because it's going to be the Forest way. Ask for all the patients and settle on what you really want. That's not a drug reps, they're used car salesman.

They're close. DO IT, DO IT! I've even witnessed them raise their voice. I know a couple of them who've been banned from offices.

 

[Anonymous]

I hear ya. It's not so much that they're there, it's the way these walking billboards do business. They show up with countless visual aids that are 18 pages long, expect docs to sit there and listen as they drone on page after page. Not once trying to learn what's important to the doctor because they know nothing about GI and they don't care to learn because it's going to be the Forest way. Ask for all the patients and settle on what you really want. That's not a drug reps, they're used car salesman.

They're close. DO IT, DO IT! I've even witnessed them raise their voice. I know a couple of them who've been banned from offices.

You danced around the real issues at forest. Forest has not spent nearly what they used to in studies that demonstrate the multiple values of their products. The result is that we only have one value point per product. Thus you get the billboard style of advertising not sales.

I wouldnt put all the shame on the rep. We do what we are told to do just like you. The problem rest on the shoulders of upper managemet who couldn't sell their way out of a paper bag. Get us a couple endpoints we can work with and let's move the conversation forward. If the doc has no faith in the product he's not at fault. Even if he's interested just asking him to take a leap of faith when there are different products that achieve the same results but have tons of data behind it is insane.

I understand your point of view. It sucks for me just as much as you and I don't sell Linzess at all.

 

[Anonymous]

You danced around the real issues at forest. Forest has not spent nearly what they used to in studies that demonstrate the multiple values of their products. The result is that we only have one value point per product. Thus you get the billboard style of advertising not sales.

I wouldnt put all the shame on the rep. We do what we are told to do just like you. The problem rest on the shoulders of upper managemet who couldn't sell their way out of a paper bag. Get us a couple endpoints we can work with and let's move the conversation forward. If the doc has no faith in the product he's not at fault. Even if he's interested just asking him to take a leap of faith when there are different products that achieve the same results but have tons of data behind it is insane.

I understand your point of view. It sucks for me just as much as you and I don't sell Linzess at all.

I agree with this poster. I don't sell Linzess either but it is the same on my side of the street. Some if us with more maturity than some of our newer folks find it just as frustrating as the outsiders do. I really don't think it will be much longer though. They are probably cutting a significant number of us and will implement differential resourcing.

Our CEO himself who will be the ACT CEO has said he does not like the old pod system, there will be cuts and has hinted at a DR sales model. He moves fast too. It's gonna be a wild ride come June 18!

 

[Anonymous]

You danced around the real issues at forest. Forest has not spent nearly what they used to in studies that demonstrate the multiple values of their products. The result is that we only have one value point per product. Thus you get the billboard style of advertising not sales.

I wouldnt put all the shame on the rep. We do what we are told to do just like you. The problem rest on the shoulders of upper managemet who couldn't sell their way out of a paper bag. Get us a couple endpoints we can work with and let's move the conversation forward. If the doc has no faith in the product he's not at fault. Even if he's interested just asking him to take a leap of faith when there are different products that achieve the same results but have tons of data behind it is insane.

I understand your point of view. It sucks for me just as much as you and I don't sell Linzess at all.

Well said. With lexapro benicar and Namenda we could have gone 30 different ways with each call. Now we only have one and possibly two routes and when "no" comes along the only thing we can do is punt. This wasn't a problem 5 years ago. You ask enough doctors eventually your going to hear a yes. With access in my 3 territories at 30% max it eliminates any kind of hunt.

You can't say this to management. All they want is 10 sigs between 9-5.

 

[Anonymous]

You danced around the real issues at forest. Forest has not spent nearly what they used to in studies that demonstrate the multiple values of their products. The result is that we only have one value point per product. Thus you get the billboard style of advertising not sales.

I wouldnt put all the shame on the rep. We do what we are told to do just like you. The problem rest on the shoulders of upper managemet who couldn't sell their way out of a paper bag. Get us a couple endpoints we can work with and let's move the conversation forward. If the doc has no faith in the product he's not at fault. Even if he's interested just asking him to take a leap of faith when there are different products that achieve the same results but have tons of data behind it is insane.

I understand your point of view. It sucks for me just as much as you and I don't sell Linzess at all.

OMG! The reps behavior gets worse and it goes straight to shit when a manager is on a ride along. It's all about messaging because the upper management doesn't trust it's reps to say and do the right thing. In part, because the company doesn't know what the right thing to say is. No market research to see what messaging works as they don't think legal will approve anything. It's lazy amateur bs and it's not sustainable.

I was hoping the Actavis deal would purge the sales and marketing depts. and get some qualified, passionate folks willing to run new ideas up the legal flag pole. I'd describe upper management as a bunch of weasels. Not sharks, snakes or even skunks...weasels.

 

[Anonymous]

So frustrating this actually happened this week to me. I got told NY GI office no more reps today because our company sends in to many. I told my DM and he said well you should all be following your p1 p2 p3 and this wouldn't happen. ITS a GI clinic dip shit!

 

[Anonymous]

So frustrating this actually happened this week to me. I got told NY GI office no more reps today because our company sends in to many. I told my DM and he said well you should all be following your p1 p2 p3 and this wouldn't happen. ITS a GI clinic dip shit!

Just take these guys to some strip clubs instead.