11.20.06
nktr: IMPROVING VISIBILITY; GPS ADOPTING; SETS STAGE FOR DTC; EXUBERA SUPERBOWL WOULD BE TOUCHDOWN
Folks, the Exubera train is finally leaving the station. Pfizer has opened up the GP playbook and now appears to be implementing its second marketing phase targeting GPs and utilizing positive experiences in symposia to drive GP adoption. Our individual experience confirmed this last week. Following an annual check up with a GP who had been an early adopter of Lantus a few years ago, we were pleasantly surprised that not only has this internist heard of Exubera, he has ten patients taking Exubera and said, 'They all love it'. Dr. Tyroler's not an endocrinologist, but has seen many diabetic patients. Most were switched from injectable insulin: three Type I's who still use Lantus (long acting once a day), and the rest Type 2's who have stopped injectable insulin for Exubera and in 3 cases, had failed oral therapy, but were badly out of control. 'Nothing was working...but Exubera has in just one month.' This physician plans to speak at a regional symposia Pfizer is sponsoring the week after Thanksgiving that will be attended by other GPs. With this encouraging development which appears ahead of Pfizer's recent guidance of GP (or second marketing phase) for January, we managed to contact several other GPs who have recently prescribed Exubera in major regions - the Bay Area, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Texas. The enthusiasm was largely the same as here in Fairfax. While admittedly anecdotal, at a minimum we can infer the following that we view as positive for NKTR stock which has enjoyed a 15% rise in the last few weeks during a period where healthcare stocks, particularly drug stocks, have underperformed post the elections. |
