Some insights into strama papers presented in the defense yesterday - pharma onco and bank assurance

Rizal Philippines   |   February 11, 2014

Today is the Feast of Lourdes in France.  The anniversary of apparition of Virgin Mary to the young girls.  Let us celebrate and remember the missives of Virgin Mary to us.

I was a panelist in two papers yesterday:   a bankassurance and a European pharma selling oncology (anti cancer drugs in the Philippines)

1.  Pharma selling anti cancer drugs.





The paper made sense to me after I researched on the phramacology of the drugs being sold by the company.  They were all mumbo jumbo (Swiss if you may):  re monoclonal HER type of breast cancer, immunotherapy. and threfore I had to do a lot of research:  Here is the link to my research:  Immunotherapy and monoclonal treatment from Roche - now leader in oncology drug.  Why health is wealth for pharma.

1.  to situate this in the Phil morbidity and mortality PESTEL   (Philippines tops in breast cancer incidence in Asia
2.  about incidence of cancer worldwide  (WHO World Cancer report)
3.  and why their company is the leading provider of state of the science oncology products and why they are leaving competitors behind. (they are the darling of investors giving truth to the idea that health is wealth)

Their company's mechanism is targeted action vs cancer cells:  unlike the big 3 traditional treatment:  surgery, radiation and chemotherapy which affect both healthy and diseased (cancer infested cells) thus weakening the patient further and causing difficult side effects:  nausea, vomitting, loss of hair etc.  Their drugs would none or little side effects.  While traditional chemo (and the other modes of traditional treatment would have 3% survival rate, their drugs would be 50% (she claims - I would like to think so) But their drugs cost 5x more than traditional chemo.  Would you not pay additional P1 million to increasing your chance of having more longevity?  Yes you would

The student who heads a group of detailmen/women did not effectively explain these in layman's term to the panelist and I had to coax her to with my questions (which were many) to explain the uniqueness of their offerings, which make them run away success. There were at times I felt I was doing the strama defense. 

Not much strategic thinking is required:

1. Intensify awareness and getting the 100 onco or so in the Philippines be their apostles

2.  I suggested that the access be fortified and increased since it is an expensive drug.  Please see Narayana example of Dr. Dr. David Shetty in India.

The student's strategic target of P725 million  is very low since it means only 484 patients (a one year treatment for Herceptin (vs HER type of breast cancer) costs P1. 5 million  a year.  If there is high incidence of cancer.... There are 2 other onco drugs... (One of the panelists use their drug for her kidney ailment)

I have to admit that I learned much from researching this paper, than probably the strama student

  I am a student of non traditional cures;  I have a site named:  cheapcures and my advocacy is to let people know how they could live healthier and longer.   And since cancer is now the # 2 killer in the Philippines and may be # 1 in the world, I am very much interested in this topic.  After looking at all my researches, I must admit that their company has superior and scientifically based performance vs herbal and other non traditional cancer cures:  Hulda Clark, German methods, etc.

2.  As to bank assurance

The student confuses the bank assurance with insurance business, does not understand the business model:   who are the customers, how does it make money, the sales-cost equation for their business.  Thus her cpm and kfs  had contradictory logic and does not bear out the truth.  Eg. she said that the number of branches were critical success factors and even had a 20pts rating.  And yet, the 795 branches firm was only No. 14 in terms of business volume;  theirs which  had only 22 branches was # 2 and had over P5 billion in revenues.

Since it is a bank assurance company, the customers taking financial services are mandated by default to take insurance from the inhouse broker (the company).  NO marketing efforts are needed since it is an inhouse business.  There is full synergy.  Thus it can make do with only 27 employees and make P5 billion in resources without breaking sweat.

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