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| Humalog rapid-acting insulin my introduction into the pharmaceutical industry |
First things first, get this product on your formulary yesterday! It shouldn’t take six months for a P&T committee review. Now, the primary reason for this blog post.
My career in the pharmaceutical industry began in 2002 with Eli Lilly and Co. I started out as a sales representative in the diabetes care division before electronic prescribing. I don’t know why I added the part about electronic prescribing other than to reflect back on how fast time flies. Not too many employees speak highly of a company once they leave. I do, however, of Eli Lilly and Co. every chance I get.
Before going any further, I need to preempt any attempts to downplay what I’m about to write. Much like Eminem when he battle raps, I know what my competition is going to say before they utter a single word.
Eli Lilly is a great pharmaceutical company who puts patients first. I know, I know…it is a public drugmaker, with shareholders, and generates gargantuan margins from its product portfolio. Hear me out.
1) Back then, in 2002, and still today the sales culture was about putting the patient first always. Of course, the company has to keep shareholders happy but it didn’t do it at the expense of patients. I truly believe this and have more street smarts than most so no I’m not drinking the Kool-aid.
2) In a team meeting, my manager called me into a private room during a break. He handed me a folder and inside was a letter explaining my salary was going from $65,000/yr to $85,000/yr. I got light-headed and nearly passed out. It wasn’t so much about the money instead it was the recognition I appreciated most of all. There are two things of note. First, I had not asked for a raise. Second, I was less than one year into my tenure with Eli Lilly still they cut the check!
3) Less than a year later, I was promoted way ahead of schedule. I’m talking six or seven years ahead of schedule. They recognized my results and rewarded me for them. No red tape, business case, or performance review just you deserve it so here you go.
I write all of this to say I’m not surprised Eli Lilly and Co. announced plans on Monday to sell a half-price version of its popular insulin injection Humalog. True, it is fending off criticism about rising drug prices, especially insulin, yet like my pay raise it didn’t have to do this.
