Posturing to keep customers?

[Lulu54]

Hmm.  Protecting profits?

Today’s mail brought a new survey request from Shared Solutions (copaxone) that says in big letters YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHOOSE.   “

It talks about MS being an autoimmune disease “and treating it is a balancing act between fighting the confused immune response and allowing the immune system to defend the body.”  It goes on to tell me how copaxone works to protect my immune system.  Interesting so far, but nothing new, right?

But then  I look at the other panel of this flyer and read all about the immune system and how important it is in fighting MS.  

Anyone guessing yet where this is going?

The panel on the immune system closes with these two key points:
“>Some of the anticipated new therapies in development work by reducing the number of confused as well as protective, white blood cells (T cells)
>Reducing T cells, or immune function, can raise the risk of certain infections and malignancies.”

You think perhaps TEVA Pharmaceutical is concerned about preserving market shares since Gilenya has hit the pharmacies?   Me too.

There’s nothing like a few scare tactics to make us reconsider the new oral meds, right?  

be well, Lulu

[twopack]

I don't mind doing a survey that might include some biased education.  I do object to the line reading, "For your time in sharing with us, we'd like to share some important information with you."  I figured it was something useless.  I should have known it would be a threepeat of their agenda.

As you say LU, the focus is on profit and customer retention.  Hate to bring up my prejudices again but (I will of course) it reminds me of the drive to incorporate statins into multiple anti-hypertensive/statin combos just in time to convert generic going users to new expensive patented designer models.

I'll still go do the survey and thank TEVA daily for developing or discovering one of the few options we have for fighting MS (and assure them I'm in no hurry to go punctureless).

Enjoying your snack, DQ?

Mary

[Lulu54]

I've also received a nmber of mailing from biogen wanting me to consider switching to Tysabri.  What SS is doing is no different than what all the other pharmas do - if they know we are a potential customer they will treat us to dinners, give us goodies emblazoned with their product name, and do everything that is legal (gray maybe, but never exactly illegal) to get us to come over or stay on their side.

It just appears that they all are reacting to the oral med, knowing full well how much we must all dislike doing injections.

[jensequitur]

I dunno about the Copaxone survey.  I had to stop it, because of that allergic reaction/IPIR I mentioned earlier.  I started on Betaseron, and I just took the second dose last night.

I have to say, despite the negative barrage of information that the nurse gave me, that overall it's been better than Copaxone.  No site reactions, no chance of the IPIR.  I'm not taking the full dose yet, though - and the mixing of the medication is a little complicated.

[opie74]

Slowing down the immune system with pint sized petry dishes (children) in the house is never a good idea!

[sllowe]

Are the "Ts (cells) " the ones that don't come back?

-Shell

[lovemy6monkeys]

IMO, if they want to protect their profits, lower the price. It makes sense to me that if they have a larger pool of people that can afford the medicine they offer (or whose insurance will approve it) that will help their bottom line.

And, to add to the off topic discussion: We shut off our cable 6 months ago. We cannot get good reception in our house to use that converter box & antenna thing to get local channels, so we literally have no live TV in the house (we have netflix that we can stream to our TV so the kids can watch old episodes of some shows or movies). I realized the other day that it has been about 5 &1/2 months since one of the kids said "I want that!!!! Can we buy that?" because they are no longer bombarded with commercials. And, as an added bonus...no political ads either LOL (And, the only time I listen to the radio is in the car, where we have Sirius radio, so no ads there either!)
~Jess

[HVAC]

My favorite Is the DVD thet send to get started on Copaxone. I call it the Stepford wives/Timeshare DVD. I had to keep stopping it I was laughing so hard. All the happy active people with RRMS living in the Parade of Homes speaking the Teva script verbatim. You go anywhere with a bunch of folks on Copaxone and somebody busts out laughing when you mention the DVD.

Come on this is the drug which they hope will double the companies profits in 5 years.
I always look up whatever drug I am on as an investor to get the other side of the story.

I go to PUBMED  if I want real information about illness.

Alex

Alex

[jujuminx]

In spite of what we might think of our DMD's, we all have to keep in mind that for the most part, they are all very expensive and the pharmaceuticals have a big interest in keeping us on them, whatever those drugs are.

Very interesting but not surprising.

Julie

[Lulu54]

I just completed their on-line survey that they asked me to do, and here is the follow-on information that they listed at the end.....  

"Questions to ask your doctor

As a person living with MS, it is important for you to be knowledgeable
about your immune system. One way to get more information is to ask
your doctor during your next visit.

Here are some questions that you may want to raise:
• What is the relationship between MS and my immune system?

• How do each of the available therapies try to have an effect
on my immune system?

• Do the treatments still under development have an
impact on my immune system?

• What are the risks of having a reduced immune response?

• What can I do to help take care of my immune system?


Shared Solutions"

[Lulu54]

Hijack away, PD.  I never mind extra voices and thoughts added to any conversation that I start here.

I too wish our political scene would return to a different tone.  My question is what on earth happened to the truth?  It seems everywhere we turn truth that can be verified by research and facts is conveniently ignored or twisted to manipulate us voters.  Ooops - just hijacked my own post!  LOL

[PastorDan]

Sounds like they hired the same ad agency that's advising so many of our political candidates.

While on that (off) topic, the next few weeks can't be gone quickly enough for me; I am worn to a pulp from hearing so many people run each other down with half truths and innuendo, no matter their persuasion.  It's like it's deer season, and we voters are the deer.  Camouflage, blinds, false scents -- they use whatever it takes to lure us in and make us feel at ease.

Guess I should let this go.  Sorry, LauraLu, I didn't mean to hijack your thread; I guess I just got a burr under my saddle.

[gypcwmn]

I got that flyer and I had stop taking copaxone a few months ago. I switched to Rebif,

I stopped taking that too. I just cant handle the shots and side effects. I am not even

gonna try the pill.

[Quixotic1]

*gets out the popcorn*

:))