Company coupon programs

Well after the sunshine and happiness of the last few posts, I have a somewhat serious post that I hope management will read and take to heart. I am a relatively happy Oscient rep who thinks that while not everything is perfect at Oscientville it is better than a lot of other places to work.

One of the things I think makes the company a good place to work is that we have the some of the best coupon programs in the industry especially now that we have point-of-purchase $50 off Factive coupons. My only complaint is that they tell us to sell these programs hard - and a lot of us do! Even to the point that we get Drs writing our drugs because of our superior programs. So please do not leave us hanging by not getting us new coupons before the old ones expire! If we have docs who write because of the good programs and they go to write our drug but look at the coupon and it is expired we lose a lot of the ground we gained with that doc.

We only get to see some of these tough-to-see docs every couple of weeks. If we don't have new coupons early enough these high-writing docs are left with expired coupons. It can take as long a month to get everyone we call on hooked up with new coupons. Also it takes some of these docs months to get it through their very busy brains that we have the best deal in an antibiotic or fenofibrate. When they finally reach for Antara or Factive we don't want them to pick up an expired coupon.

Hope this makes sense, please get us the new coupons at least a month before the old ones expire. Thanks.

 

Any advice on gaining doctor usage of these instant rebates? The doctors in my area are still hesitant to try a new quinolone, especially one with limited indications. Free doesn't seem to be working in my territory. Also, the PI data on lowm s/e's isn't cutting it with my more savvy physicians.

 

As a former drug rep / "professional caterer that happens to be a medical consultant", I can tell you that coupons do matter first and foremost. I spent many a Saturday filling out Prior Auth apps for patients that could not afford one of my meds...docs respected that and rewarded my efforts. All docs that I did this for were in my top ten of my optimal frequencies...even though my product wasn't in formulary. Can we say top 10% of company?

Secondly, I have had the fortune of being prescribe Factive on three occasions. This is a great drug. Pretty much, quinolonoes will cover the major pathogens S. Pnemo, M. Cat and H. Flu. My doc rx's it for major sinus infections when there are some infiltrates in the lungs.

Thirdly, I miss the coupons. I was given a $50 coupon which had expired. The doc did not know this, but he was disappointed when I told him. I said that he shouldn't hold the rep responsible since the reps aren't paid to take coupons back. (The good ones will).

Remember one thing: even though the company may not do the right thing does not mean that you cannot. You need to hang onto your own personal credibility. Drug reps average 2 - 2.5 years per company. If you're credible, it doesn't matter which company you go with.

Keep up the good work. Drug reps are valuable if you talk science and BRING value.

C.A.
Mississippi

 

Poster above. You do realize this company no longer exists. The last post for this thread was in 2006. I believe they sold their furniture several months ago. You may want to lay off the eggnog.

 

Re: Oscient Pharmaceuticals coupon programs

Apparently the company does still exist. I just got a coupon when I went to the doctor yesterday for bronchitis. They gave me a coupon for a free* five day supply of Factive. The coupon actually read free co-pay up to $150 --meaning they waive/take care of your co-pay amount unless its over $150. But WalMart quoted the cash price for the prescription at $140, so it's therefore free anyway, as long as you have an insurance to file it on.

 

A different company,Cornerstone, now owns the drug Factive.

 

Cornerstone?????????????????????? Does any of the crack Oscient management team work there?

 

This is really nice program...