Pepin’s Pharmaceutical Prattle for 12-13-2004

Quote of the day:  Underpromise; overdeliver.

                                     Tom Peters, in The Chicago Tribune

 Good morning ! 

World Class

A fellow I know in Indiana told me about a prank that his father pulled in the mid 1970's. This was about the time of the first "oil crisis" and everyone was talking about gas mileage. One of his father's co-workers kept meticulous records and bragged about the mileage on his new Mustang. My friend's father started putting a little gas in the victim's tank every day. Soon the bragging started to increase about the phenomenal mileage that was attained. Eventually the rest of the co-workers became involved until everyone was putting a little gas into the fellow's tank.

 One fateful day the "victim" confided that he had not put gas in his car for  a month. At that point everyone stopped adding gas to his tank. Needless to say, his mileage fell off in a hurry. What did he do? He called the dealership for a tune up and further went on to complain about his now normal mileage.

 What kind of service are you providing to your clients? Is it so good that they would complain about service that was previously expected? Have you been boosting their "mileage" such that they would complain at "normal" service?  This is "WORLD CLASS" service and what we should strive to provide. If you can't do this on your own then enlist your co-workers in other areas. If we all put in a little extra "gas" then both our clients and we will go a lot further.

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ps. Best answer this week to the question "How are you?" was "Tangeriffic" (my friend in the tangerine top)

 1) Doctors ignore drug reps?

One rep-physician visit had no effect upon prescribing. You would think the results would be more favorable for the over $16 Billion received in free sample alone. This study flies in the face of conventional wisdom. First evidence-based medicine and now evidence-based detailing? Now wonder direct to consumer ads are still increasing.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=7033340

2) …and maybe some Consumer to consumer advertising!

Consumer Reports will now start to highlight BEST BUYS on prescription drugs. Some people get bent out of shape when PBMs do this to show that generic lovastatin can save a lot of money over the brand name cholesterol drugs. This suggested therapeutic alternative strategy for cash customers might help employers save some money too. Expect some early pressure on anti-cholesterol, anti-acid, and COX II drugs. Too bad that this is likely to be based more on money than on therapeutics. I can almost see the "Consumer Reports BEST BUY Formulary for 2006" and hear the patter of pharma feet running to be listed.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/041209/health_consumers_2.html

3) The state of the States' generic use…

New report shows that Massachusetts has the highest and New Jersey (home of many Pharma companies) and New York (home of "The Elliot") have the lowest use of generics. How does your State fair?

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=69641&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=650411&highlight=

4) Rogue nurse gives real "flu shots"…

I'm sure you saw the news about a Minnesota nurse who set up an unauthorized Flu Vaccine administration station. Tests show that she gave real vaccine…. lacked permission and other legal requirements… but the students were given real vaccine by a real nurse. I expect some hands will be slapped but she'll get of fairly lightly.

http://startribune.com/stories/462/5129692.html

5) Aces win! Texas Hold 'em?

New drug study folds. Shows that ACE inhibitors with calcium channel blocker beat beta blockers with diuretics  especially in hearts (reduced heart attacks and strokes). The study was stopped early due to the overwhelming advantage. Expect many savvy physicians to go "all in" on this. http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/041208/pfizer_norvasc_1.html

6) Recall of Canadian Lithium!

Many people are buying from Canada but no safety recall pertains. Thought I'd mention it here in case your are one of the 1% of the population who are manic depressive and you decided to spend more money on your drugs buy getting them from Canada. (Surprise… generics are cheaper here than in Canada due to Canadian government price controls). http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/2004/ANS01330.html

7) Our Gang skis on Alfalfa not Buckwheat?

It appears that a gang of Minnesotan's are a little crazy for snow. "Winter sports" include snowmobiling on alfalfa (the crop) and cross country skiing with wheeled skis due to lack of snow… so far this year. The old Chinese proverb says "Be careful what you wish for…. you may get it!" (but they say it in Mandarin… the language not the fruit).  http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/10/no.snow.ap/index.html

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