Whats the real deal with Cimzia and UCB?

[Anonymous]

Hey folks, I know the last few posts have been real negative from those that did not get an offer after their interviews, but I wanted to ask a real general question about UCB and Cimzia. Do you think that this company is going somewhere and that the drug will do well?

Personally, I received a great financial offer from this company and was impressed with their management team (although i can understand those that were frustrated with the process in Dallas). What should one take into account before joining this organization? Whats the risk of this not coming to market?

[Anonymous]

there is always a risk of any new product not coming to market. Due to the fact that this is not a first in class product and the trial data looks good, chances are good that approval will come. It may be delayed, as that is rather common, but we should see it come to market.
The company is putting a lot of investment in the biologics as a whole and this seems to be the future of the company.
As far as what to take into account, what is your current situation? you need to ask yourself if you are happy and are with a strong company. what is your current companies future? Most things that you need to take into account are based on your personal situation. The future of UCB and this division, however look very strong. hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. That was very helpful. My personal situation is a tough choice between this company and going into devices (which we all know is bigger money, but bigger responsibility and time commitment). I will be leaving a great biotech company that has botched its future in many ways. I mainly want to make sure I am getting with a company that sees the angles and appears to be putting its best foot forward (and not just buying top talent and hoping for the best). Any other thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Great idea seeking career advice on this board. I can see why you received that generous offer from UCB. It's difficult to find good help like yourself these days.

Do you write on the boards to get ideas on which tampon you should use?

[Anonymous]

disregard the negative replies....i am sure many are jealous of your offer. No other thoughts for you. Sounds like the ball is in your court. Depending on the device opportunity, sounds like you have a tough decision. UCB, however is a solid company with a solid future in biotech. Best of luck with the decision.

[Anonymous]

Trying to decide to go to UCB or not is like going to Vegas and betting your life savings on black or red....it is a true crap shoot, understand it is a 50/50 bet. Drug gets approved, your in good shape, drug doesn't get approved, your unemployed.......is it worth the risk?????

[Anonymous]

That was very well put......I agree

[Anonymous]

"I will be leaving a great biotech company that has botched its future in many ways."

What is the company you would be leaving and how have they botched their future?

[Anonymous]

"I will be leaving a great biotech company that has botched its future in many ways."

What is the company you would be leaving and how have they botched their future?




I bet the farm it is Scios

[Anonymous]

You are correct. How'd you guess?

[Anonymous]

Thanks. That was very helpful. My personal situation is a tough choice between this company and going into devices (which we all know is bigger money, but bigger responsibility and time commitment). I will be leaving a great biotech company that has botched its future in many ways. I mainly want to make sure I am getting with a company that sees the angles and appears to be putting its best foot forward (and not just buying top talent and hoping for the best). Any other thoughts?

I've done both and can tell you that you are right, there definitely is more $$ in device. There is also way, way more autonomy. Generally no call reporting, little to no paperwork (with the exception of writing up P.O.s and contracts and all that relates to that), very few conference calls/projects/crap like that, 1-2 meetings a year (none of the POA crap you get in biotech/pharma), just overall you are treated like a big boy/girl.

Also on a day-to-day basis there is much more interaction w/physicians and it is far more interesting and challenging work, esp if you are selling in the OR.

You will start earlier in the morning (I was usually in the hospital by 6:30am), but you'll also be done earlier - many surgery days were done by noon, though some went till 2-2:30.

And did I mention the money???? Commissions paid monthly, some months I had checks up to $30K. It's a good deal if you get the right product.

[Anonymous]

Managers......Stay off or please stop writing things to better yourselves.

[Anonymous]

Device is great. I'm with a company that's paying me straight commission at the moment because they know I still have my pharma job. Once I get a little more steady, I'll get out of pharma completely.

[Anonymous]

Devices hands down. If this company is requiring you to do a simulation befor you get the job, imagine what training will be like. Cimzia seem like it will be a viable option in RA but if you are a true salesperson, device is the way to go. At least if you worked for Scios since the beginning you are used to making some major bonus money. No way will you make that kind of money with UCB. Steady perhaps 175k but never 200-300K as you may with the right device job. What company is the device opportunity with?

[Anonymous]

Go device..drugs at this stage of the approval process are an uncertain propostion. unless you are bent on staying in pharma long term. It's not like UCB is hooking you up with tons of options either and you'll kick yourself for missing an opportunity if the stock goes through the roof. If the drug fails you wait around for months before it comes out. Sounds easy but does not give you alot to talk about when you are interviewing in the future, especially if your competition was getting it done with #'s to show while you were waiting for the fda to make a decision.

If there is an issue with a device, they can fix it or improve it in a matter of months.

If you really can sell, go devices, you can always go back to pharma if you have trouble.

The 115 UCB base salaries sound great but what is a realistic bonus if they are paying all those hefty base salaries?

[Anonymous]

UCB: Cimzia making good progress
20th July 2006
By James Wentworth
UCB has released phase II trial results for Cimzia in moderate to severe psoriasis.
A phase II clinical trial involving Cimzia, UCB and Nektar's anti-TNF alpha antibody, has demonstrated it to be effective and safe in treating psoriasis. However, despite this latest positive news, and Cimzia's advantages over other biologics, the drug candidate's anticipated late entry to the psoriasis drug market will have a negative impact upon its chances of success.
'Content Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is a long-acting, humanized and PEGylated anti-TNF alpha antibody currently being co-developed by UCB and Nektar for the treatment of psoriasis, Crohn's disease and arthritis.

AdvertisementBuilding upon Cimzia's previous positive trial data in its other intended indications, UCB has now reported encouraging phase II clinical trial data in moderate to severe psoriasis. Results from this dose-ranging study showed that, at week 12, 75% of patients who received Cimzia 400mg followed by a dose of Cimzia 200mg every other week reached PASI-75, the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index measure used as the trial's primary endpoint. In addition, 83% of patients who just received Cimzia 400mg every other week reached PASI-75. In contrast, just 7% of patients receiving placebo reached PASI-75.

Importantly, Cimzia was also reported to be well tolerated by the patients, with side effects no different to other current TNF therapies. This could be a real feather in Cimzia's cap as traditional treatments for moderate to severe psoriasis, such as corticosteroids, have been associated with numerous side effects.

Furthermore, it is estimated that such traditional psoriasis treatments only meet the needs of around 40% of sufferers, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation. With more than 125 million people worldwide believed to suffer from psoriasis, this underserved 60% of patients represents a real market opportunity for new and improved treatments.

However, if approved, Cimizia will face competition from a number of currently available biologics, including Amgen's Enbrel (etanercept), Johnson & Johnson's/Schering-Plough's Remicade (infliximab), Biogen Idec's Amevive (alefacept) and Serano/Genentech's Raptiva (efalizumab).

Although Cimzia will be going up against some big players in the psoriasis market, the drug candidate has a number of strings to its bow to help it compete. For example, Cimzia is less expensive than other biologics and has a convenient dosing schedule.

[Anonymous]

Ask yourself this. If you're a doctor and you're making all this money on Remicade infusions, why would you give up a cash cow to give your patients an injection that they will end up doing at home. You will loose your office visit, which includes many coding statements plus the remicade infusion dollars, and the patients will not need to see you as often. I'm a doctor with a brain bigger than your's, Am I going to listen to you with your BS/BA degree from community college an not be able to pay my bills and my kids college fund. Bring me some more donuts and maybe I'll give you some face time next time you come in to bother me, MAYBE.

[PCP_Rep]

Ask yourself this. If you're a doctor and you're making all this money on Remicade infusions, why would you give up a cash cow to give your patients an injection that they will end up doing at home. You will loose your office visit, which includes many coding statements plus the remicade infusion dollars, and the patients will not need to see you as often. I'm a doctor with a brain bigger than your's, Am I going to listen to you with your BS/BA degree from community college an not be able to pay my bills and my kids college fund. Bring me some more donuts and maybe I'll give you some face time next time you come in to bother me, MAYBE.

How on earth does Humira and Enbrel have any sales? Do you actually believe a physician would only prescribe Remicade for infusion money? I don't know much about Cimzia, but I can promise you if Patient A is failing on Remicade and the doc tries Cimzia with success, the patient will continue to receive it.

[Anonymous]

If UCB is only seeking to pick-up failures from other therapies, then you all will not sell crap. You can not grow marketshare from failures. What about new starts, add-on therapy, etc.

If all you high priced gubers are going for failed therapies, you will find yourself getting pressure from UCB and many of you will jump ship.

[PCP_Rep]

I did not say only pick up failures. I was simply illustrating the point that Remicade does not have 100% market share, so infusion money is not what's driving physicians.

Again, I barely know anything about Cimzia, but the comment about docs wanting infusion money was silly.

[Anonymous]

PCP rep is on the money. There is no clearer evidence than the sucess of Enbrel and Humira in a market that puts them head to head with Remicade's infusion model (Enbrel is the clear market leader and Humira is by far the fastest growing). And community RA is an area that is difficult to make money in w.out infusing. As it is many GIs send their Remicade patients to Rheum offices for infusions (so they make no $$$). The fact is that the failures are a lay-up. Once a doctor has experience with the self inject product, and confidence, it will be offered to patients, and many will choose to self inject. Also don't underestimate the power of the patient grapevine. CD is a rare and serious affliction and MANY patients are involved with support groups, web logs etc. There are many that know Cimzia and Humira are coming, and a business minded doctor will give them what they want especially if they are failing or dose escalating Remicade. The word is that Cimzia is less expensive to produce, if that cost advantage is passed on to managed care Remicade may become that much harder to get for the $$ chasers anyway. PS- this is already reality with some MC plans that require an Enbrel or Humira failure to get Remicade for RA