Vaccine expansion ?

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Anonymous said:
I would consider myself a pretty well informed vaccine industry insider who has worked for both GSK and Merck (not a sales rep), here is my perspective on the Novartis vaccine situation. First, let me say I understand what the Novartis pharma reps are thinking at this point and this post is not to attack them or burst their hope of getting those new vaccine jobs. Rather, my post is too add to the meaningful discussion. I certainly can't blame any pharma rep for hoping this is their opportunity to get out of being a pharma rep and into a growing vaccine market that has more direct sales responsibility and is a safer place due to robust pipelines, especially the one at Novartis.
My thoughts are that Novartis is going to get this expansion right, let me explain further. I really feel they are going to hire the right people with the right mix of experience (private and public sector vaccine experience) and learn from the mistakes of other companies and their commercial models and vaccine product launches. They clearly have taken their time with the expansion so they don't jump the gun like Merck and even GSK, having people doing market development for 6 months with no product. They also have already cherry picked PED marketing talent from Merck to head up Menveo (I am not naming names or initials but those who work inside at Merck know who it is) I won't go into detail on the other mistakes at Merck but any Merck vaccine person reading this knows exactly what I am referring too in the sense of ruining a great division by mixing pharma and vaccines together and bringing in pharma leadership with zero vaccine experience. GSK apparently is shaking things up as well but is faced with issues due to product delays etc.
It will also be no surprise to see a certain recently displaced senior level person from Merck Vaccines as one of the directors of sales. In fact sources I have nearly confirmed that one of the three directors is in fact a former Merck Ped SBD (again not naming names) who will run the West region. With that said, I agree totally with the poster who points out the differences of pharma vs. vaccines, and to my point of Novartis getting this right, I think that the new vaccine Novartis district managers will consist of Merck, GSK, and SA vaccine managers. It will be easy to find Ped and PCP vaccine managers at Merck who are willing to leave for the shear opportunity of being in a small division again, new leadership and having new product bonus potential again which was so nice during all of Merck's vaccine launches. I am sure the same can be said for GSK vaccine managers who want a change or see the HPV battle as already lost due to delay perceptions. Perhaps they keep a few high potential Novartis pharma managers who have an interest in the job or an inside connection. It is my opinion though that pharma reps with no vaccine experience have little to no chance since it is my belief that the district managers and directors know the unique differences between pharma/vaccines and will not make that mistake. In this job environment and with all the vaccine experience that will likely apply for the jobs it would make no sense to hire a pharma rep and wait 6-8 months for them to figure it out and learn the in's and out's of the vaccine business. There is also instant credibility going into an office with vaccine knowledge. During Merck's expansion they moved pharma people over and while some "got it" and loved it when it came to selling vaccines, many people struggled with the transition and didn't like closing a customer for an order of x doses on the spot and preferred the softer pharma sale and being in clusters of 4 people with very limited direct accountability. In vaccines, numbers are instant and you likely the only person promoting your product so there is no hiding and waiting 3 months for data. There are going to be people, likely pharma reps, who disagree with me and thats fine, I would just simply say you are grossly misinformed of the differences of pharma/vaccines. I do recognize there are really good sales people "stuck" in pharma sales and I feel your pain, for I was in your position back in the day but was very lucky to break out with persistence, luck, politics and performance.
This will be an interesting case study looking back to see if Novartis gets this right, again I think they will. However, if they don't get it right, they have no one to blame because they had the talent pool and recent launch examples to model and learn from. I wish everyone luck in these challenging times and for those who apply and don't the jobs at Novartis, remember that the vaccine reps and managers from GSK, SA, and Merck will likely need to be replaced so there will still be opportunities to get into vaccines elsewhere. Good luck!
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Nice try.
 












Anonymous said:
Interesting perspective, good post. I think this person is right. It seems all the problems at GSK and Merck will give us the ability to pick off their top vaccine sales people. I am a recently hired (within past year) pharma rep and look at this as a part time job because I have kids and a high earning significant other. I wouldn't want all that pressure from launching a new vaccine and honestly admit to the fact I like having little accountability. They should just make sure they don't get the kool-aid drinking robots I have seen at both GSK and Merck. If they weed out the bad and get the good, I welcome them to Novartis with open arms! Cheers everyone, happy holidays!
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So who are you exactly? You sound like someone that hopes for the worse for people in Novartis and would rather see external people get these jobs and not the loyal, well-qualified and internal sales people and managers fro Novartis. Believe me, if someone is a good manager and a good rep, they can handle vaccine sales. It is not rocket-science. You act like only vaccine sales reps from other companies are the ONLY ones capable of selling. You would be sadly mistaken. By the way, all of those vaccines sales reps and managers at GSK, Merck and SA had to get their respective experiences at some point, right? So why wouldn't it be equitable and fair for Novartis reps and managers to step into these positions like the GSK, Merck and SA reps and managers did for the first time themselves? I will not be denied, guaranteed!
 






Yes, you will be denied cause its cafepharma and i said so (kidding)! Vaccine rep here who as already been contacted for rep job. Why would they want to take you pharma people and disrupt all those territory sample drops and signature getting when they could hire people who have recently launched vaccines, understand the business, have proven direct sales performance documentation? The person with the long post is so right on about this although a bit disgruntled. The people in pharma think it is so easy and while it isn't rocket science, your right, it still takes time to learn the business. Sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks, they want to learn but then revert to the old ways which don't work. Maybe your that pharma person who is stuck and I feel for you but with all the crap going on at GSK and even Merck for that matter Novartis will be handed talent on a platter. This is business and if I were hired as a SBD I want people with proven vaccine experience not nancy or johnny who leave great messages about their calls, had the most lunches last month and I think were the ones who drove the success of the cluster of 8 people. I don't want people who come from a broken model of no accountability. Do division 1 football teams settle for the local high school star who was OK since it would be a good PR move to have a home grown local kid as your starting QB? NO they don't....they recruit the best and most talented people for their team...period. Building a new organization is no different. Sure there will be a few political exceptions but i am guessing your not connected or else you wouldn't be on here making your case to random strangers hiding behind a CP post like myself. Why would Merck and GSK vaccine managers/reps take a chance and come over to Novartis? You clearly do not know anyone in the vaccine business because if you did you would know that GSK has inferior products, poor leadership, approval headaches and Merck, well they can't even make enough product to sell and have all pharma people running the show driving people nuts. Do your homework, make a couple phone calls, approach a vaccine rep outside an office, because if anything it will help you in the interview process.
 






Anonymous said:
So who are you exactly? You sound like someone that hopes for the worse for people in Novartis and would rather see external people get these jobs and not the loyal, well-qualified and internal sales people and managers fro Novartis. Believe me, if someone is a good manager and a good rep, they can handle vaccine sales. It is not rocket-science. You act like only vaccine sales reps from other companies are the ONLY ones capable of selling. You would be sadly mistaken. By the way, all of those vaccines sales reps and managers at GSK, Merck and SA had to get their respective experiences at some point, right? So why wouldn't it be equitable and fair for Novartis reps and managers to step into these positions like the GSK, Merck and SA reps and managers did for the first time themselves? I will not be denied, guaranteed!
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The Merck person in the long explanation is 100% accurate. Until this summer I was with Merck vaccines. It is not that pill reps cant sell vaccines, not at all. In fact I sold both for Merck & tablets are more difficult. Its just that they are different. I don't think others have made that point clear enough.
They are not dis respecting pill reps, but if you have vaccine experience you are way ahead, especially in a launch mode. This will be, as stated before, the THIRD meningitis shot. Being able to differentaite yourself will be that much harder, even with experience. When we brought a bunch of pill reps over to sell Gardasil there was no other HPV shot available. So the pill reps had time to figure things out. In fact, after two years some still don't get it, including old pill management. That is part of the reason Garda is not making its numbers this year. They did not understand how difficult it is to get adults vaccinated at decent rates.
Good luck to Novartis, with a blend of experience you could have a really awesome product success! GSK sucks & they play dirty so watch out.
 






Anonymous said:
"Smart enough to learn from you"? Your not going to win any favors from us calling us out like that, loser! Find out yourself.
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Calling you out ??? How ? I said I learned from district mates that had a lot of experience, what did you not understand ??

If you have a mix then everyone learns from the experienced. Which tablet rep is going to teach you about vaccines ? Oh yeah, the one that sells Diovan.

Don't worry, I have the recruiter info from Monster. They are listing ped managers now.
 






Anonymous said:
Yes, you will be denied cause its cafepharma and i said so (kidding)! Vaccine rep here who as already been contacted for rep job. Why would they want to take you pharma people and disrupt all those territory sample drops and signature getting when they could hire people who have recently launched vaccines, understand the business, have proven direct sales performance documentation? The person with the long post is so right on about this although a bit disgruntled. The people in pharma think it is so easy and while it isn't rocket science, your right, it still takes time to learn the business. Sometimes you can't teach an old dog new tricks, they want to learn but then revert to the old ways which don't work. Maybe your that pharma person who is stuck and I feel for you but with all the crap going on at GSK and even Merck for that matter Novartis will be handed talent on a platter. This is business and if I were hired as a SBD I want people with proven vaccine experience not nancy or johnny who leave great messages about their calls, had the most lunches last month and I think were the ones who drove the success of the cluster of 8 people. I don't want people who come from a broken model of no accountability. Do division 1 football teams settle for the local high school star who was OK since it would be a good PR move to have a home grown local kid as your starting QB? NO they don't....they recruit the best and most talented people for their team...period. Building a new organization is no different. Sure there will be a few political exceptions but i am guessing your not connected or else you wouldn't be on here making your case to random strangers hiding behind a CP post like myself. Why would Merck and GSK vaccine managers/reps take a chance and come over to Novartis? You clearly do not know anyone in the vaccine business because if you did you would know that GSK has inferior products, poor leadership, approval headaches and Merck, well they can't even make enough product to sell and have all pharma people running the show driving people nuts. Do your homework, make a couple phone calls, approach a vaccine rep outside an office, because if anything it will help you in the interview process.
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I guarantee that you as a rep have NOT been contacted for a rep position. Novartis has not even filled the RD's positions yet and the management positions are barely even a thought. Your full of it!
 






I am a top performing rep at GSK and was indeed contacted and asked if I was interested, which I am. The recruiter told me they are building a pool of qualified candidates and would be interviewing in feb. I would give you the recruiters info in I wasn't on this website. It makes sense for them to begin the process of identifying people considering when the managers are hired they will have to build a team quickly. They have to hire 8-10 people according to the job posting so I am sure they will line up 30-40 people to interview. I know you know this because you seem like someone who does their homework but word for word from the district managers posting online, responsibilities and requirements include:
"Build a best in class sales organization", "4-5 yrs selling experience preferred, Vaccine experience highly desirable. Understanding of market strategy, tactical mix, and financial management" "Product launch experience preferred"

I hope the people leading the vaccine division at Novartis are not as insecure as you pharma people there.
 






Anonymous said:
I am a top performing rep at GSK and was indeed contacted and asked if I was interested, which I am. The recruiter told me they are building a pool of qualified candidates and would be interviewing in feb. I would give you the recruiters info in I wasn't on this website. It makes sense for them to begin the process of identifying people considering when the managers are hired they will have to build a team quickly. They have to hire 8-10 people according to the job posting so I am sure they will line up 30-40 people to interview. I know you know this because you seem like someone who does their homework but word for word from the district managers posting online, responsibilities and requirements include:
"Build a best in class sales organization", "4-5 yrs selling experience preferred, Vaccine experience highly desirable. Understanding of market strategy, tactical mix, and financial management" "Product launch experience preferred"

I hope the people leading the vaccine division at Novartis are not as insecure as you pharma people there.
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Nice try.
 






Anonymous said:
I am a top performing rep at GSK and was indeed contacted and asked if I was interested, which I am. The recruiter told me they are building a pool of qualified candidates and would be interviewing in feb. I would give you the recruiters info in I wasn't on this website. It makes sense for them to begin the process of identifying people considering when the managers are hired they will have to build a team quickly. They have to hire 8-10 people according to the job posting so I am sure they will line up 30-40 people to interview. I know you know this because you seem like someone who does their homework but word for word from the district managers posting online, responsibilities and requirements include:
"Build a best in class sales organization", "4-5 yrs selling experience preferred, Vaccine experience highly desirable. Understanding of market strategy, tactical mix, and financial management" "Product launch experience preferred"

I hope the people leading the vaccine division at Novartis are not as insecure as you pharma people there.
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Ok, then give me the recruiters info. Tell me where to find the job posting. Where does it say 8-10 people? Building a team quickly, but not interviewing until February? Doesn't make sense. By the way, I have all of the experience that you listed and currently work for Novartis so you won't get my job.
 






Anonymous said:
Very good question, how did I learn the vaccine business. If you were reading some of my posts above you would understand.

I said above a new sales team would need a mix to be fair to current Novartis & still be succesful. When I switched from tablets I was a new member in a district that had people with one to ten or more years experience with vaccines!

That is how I learned, from others with EXPERIENCE! That is why you NEED people who have been in the business to help make Menveo successful. It will be the third meningitis shot on the market.

If you have team of all tablet reps selling against a team of vaccine reps the product will never make it. Again, if I read the PI on Diovan am I then able to discuss with a cardioligist the finer points of it versus its competitors because I really really want to?

You don't even know who makes the brand decision on vaccines until you have worked through the maze of influence. The MD many times does not make the decision. You need nurses & admin & sometimes pharmacy people to work through for a decision. Vaccines are a business & medical decision. Contracting is HUGE, but I am sure you pill reps already knew all this.

My original question. Does anybody know the timing of the vaccine expansion? I can help you all succeed if you are smart enough to learn from me.
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So why do you keep referring to pill reps or Diovan reps with your comments? There are plenty of other divisions, sales forces not selling pills for Novartis and actually sales forces that have very tenured reps above and beyond the Diovan or pill reps that you always like to refer to.
 






Anonymous said:
Ok, then give me the recruiters info. Tell me where to find the job posting. Where does it say 8-10 people? Building a team quickly, but not interviewing until February? Doesn't make sense. By the way, I have all of the experience that you listed and currently work for Novartis so you won't get my job.
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OK, which vaccines did you launch?
 
























For those of you wondering about Novartis vaccine manager jobs:
Recuruiters have been gathering resumes for the past month.
Interviews will begin in January & offers made in February for a March start. This is from a recruiter that contacted a GSK vaccine manager. I don't know the name of the recruiter but my friend is a GSK manager.
 






























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