Martin Shkreli is fascinating

[abaris]

He's also said that 65% of the drug that's distributed is given for free, especially to people who don't have health care, and that his company is losing money because there aren't many people who need the drug.  He bought a drug that isn't covered by patent or copyright.

Is that backed by evidence? Not him saying it, but him making good on that promise?

If it is, I will revise my opinion, but if it's only a statement, I chalk it up to PR.

[bennyboy]

He's also said that 65% of the drug that's distributed is given for free, especially to people who don't have health care, and that his company is losing money because there aren't many people who need the drug.  He bought a drug that isn't covered by patent or copyright.

Is that backed by evidence? Not him saying it, but him making good on that promise?

If it is, I will revise my opinion, but if it's only a statement, I chalk it up to PR.

I'm not sure.  However, if he's lying, he's a pretty brilliant PR guy.  Here's another interview that I just posted, but we are posting at the same time so let me put it one more time:



[/video]

[abaris]

I'm not sure.  However, if he's lying, he's a pretty brilliant PR guy.  Here's another interview that I just posted, but we are posting at the same time so let me put it one more time:

Believe you me, having worked for the last 20 years in close contact to PR people, I know the keywords and what's to be done when countering a shitstorm.

That's why I asked for evidence on him actually walking the walk. He can give interviews and one on ones all he likes. It doesn't mean, he took any action. And we already established, he's good with words.

[Exian]

Yeah, after listening to a few videos of his, I'm kind of on board with him. His company uses something like 60% of their income on R&D to improve their drugs, while most other companies spend only 15%, according to him.

His company charges hospitals and companies like Walmart the $750.00 a pill, not the people. The people go through their insurance, and those who don't have insurance (like 60%) fill out a form to get it for free. The other angle to this, and this is the product of capitalism, is that a company could actually be charged if they don't work towards maximizing the profit. A little like throwing a fight, a company could influence the Wall Street projections by purposely shooting for, say, 30% profit or none at all.

The fascinating thing about him is he doesn't hide anything. Ask him a question and he'll answer it, no matter how ugly the truth. I think that's where he's getting all the ugly press from, but it's and breath of fresh air to me.

[Mermaid]

Yeah, after listening to a few videos of his, I'm kind of on board with him. His company uses something like 60% of their income on R&D to improve their drugs, while most other companies spend only 15%, according to him.

His company charges hospitals and companies like Walmart the $750.00 a pill, not the people. The people go through their insurance, and those who don't have insurance (like 60%) fill out a form to get it for free. The other angle to this, and this is the product of capitalism, is that a company could actually be charged if they don't work towards maximizing the profit. A little like throwing a fight, a company could influence the Wall Street projections by purposely shooting for, say, 30% profit or none at all.

The fascinating thing about him is he doesn't hide anything. Ask him a question and he'll answer it, no matter how ugly the truth. I think that's where he's getting all the ugly press from, but it's and breath of fresh air to me.

And honestly, this is no different than any other pharmaceutical that is developed.

[abaris]

Yeah, after listening to a few videos of his, I'm kind of on board with him.

How's that backed by facts? Not saying, it didn't happen, but so far the only fact I've seen is him driving up the price of the medication by 5.500 percent.

So, I'd like to see facts on him being altruistic. Running his mouth isn't evidence. He's not exactly squeaky clean in any case and no longer in charge.

On December 17, 2015, Shkreli was arrested by the FBI on charges of securities fraud and released on bail. He resigned as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals and was replaced by the company's board chairman, Ron Tilles.

[Exian]

Yeah, after listening to a few videos of his, I'm kind of on board with him.

How's that backed by facts? Not saying, it didn't happen, but so far the only fact I've seen is him driving up the price of the medication by 5.500 percent.

So, I'd like to see facts on him being altruistic. Running his mouth isn't evidence. He's not exactly squeaky clean in any case and no longer in charge.

On December 17, 2015, Shkreli was arrested by the FBI on charges of securities fraud and released on bail. He resigned as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals and was replaced by the company's board chairman, Ron Tilles.

I knew he hiked the prices, but I also knew he was a privileged little idiot prick with half a brain cell. Except that he's not. If the media continued to have their way, I wouldn't know that he worked his way up to his current position and is actually extremely bright.

As I've already admitted, all the "facts and figures" are according to him. It could very well turn out to be all shit he just made up, or even rehearsed, and at that point I'll reassess my opinion of him. But even if his company isn't spending 60% on R&D to improve a drug that hasn't changed since it's creation in the 1940's, and even if he doesn't have a genuine interest in studying and treating infections, that just leaves him as your run of the mill pharm CEO taking full advantage of capitalism, while shining a light on the absurdity of it.

What won't change is how un-CEO-like his candid Internet chat videos are. It's just so odd to see someone in his position playing with his cards face up on the table.

As for his charges, I don't understand them. I don't know what securities fraud is, or how it should be put into context with his drug company.

[abaris]

I knew he hiked the prices, but I also knew he was a privileged little idiot prick with half a brain cell. Except that he's not. If the media continued to have their way, I wouldn't know that he worked his way up to his current position and is actually extremely bright.

So? Present me with some evidence of him not being a money hungry prick and I will start to show some respect. Anyone, please. Not his PR movies, not his recorded one on ones, not interviews, but facts. Prove me wrong and I will revise my opinion the next second.

Because words are words and facts are facts. In lights of that, I don't care if he crawled out of a gutter or was born with a golden spoon. His actions speak, not his mouth.

[bennyboy]

I knew he hiked the prices, but I also knew he was a privileged little idiot prick with half a brain cell. Except that he's not. If the media continued to have their way, I wouldn't know that he worked his way up to his current position and is actually extremely bright.

So? Present me with some evidence of him not being a money hungry prick and I will start to show some respect. Anyone, please. Not his PR movies, not his recorded one on ones, not interviews, but facts. Prove me wrong and I will revise my opinion the next second.

Because words are words and facts are facts. In lights of that, I don't care if he crawled out of a gutter or was born with a golden spoon. His actions speak, not his mouth.

Here's a start:
http://www.fiercepharma.com/press-releas...imethamine

This includes a toll-free number for access to the drug.  It doesn't mention specifically who will pay how much, but it seems like a good place to start.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/turing-to-di...1448405672
The above says:

Aside from offering discounts to hospitals, Turing also will start selling bottles containing 30 tablets, which would help hospitals that don’t use a lot of the pills and don’t go through all of the 100 tablet bottles that have been on sale.

In addition, Turing said it will start giving out free samples to doctors for starting patients on the drug.

The company also pledged to cut the out-of-pocket costs of the drug to no more than $10 a prescription if commercially insured patients use its copay assistance program. And Turing said it was contributing to a charity that could help Medicare patients afford their out-of-pocket costs.

The company said it will give the drug free of charge to patients whose incomes are at or below 500% of the poverty line.

Now, it could be that all of this is just corporate damage control, and they only did it to save face. But so far, the facts seem to be consistent with Shkreli's words. They do not, in my opinion, seem to be consistent with the media's portrayal of him as the incarnation of Satan.

[abaris]

Now, it could be that all of this is just corporate damage control, and they only did it to save face.  But so far, the facts seem to be consistent with Shkreli's words.  They do not, in my opinion, seem to be consistent with the media's portrayal of him as the incarnation of Satan.

Wow, 50 percent price cut. So, it's only 2750 percent more expensive as it used to be. Free samples to get doctors started with patients? Well, most call that marketing and not generosity.

Handing it out for free? Well, they got their asses covered.

Turing Pharmaceuticals' performance and financial results could differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward-looking statements. Turing Pharmaceuticals undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements.