Whalatane
2 weeks ago
From X $ARDX Raymond James Note to clients
W e remain STRONG BUY RATED on ARDX and our reducing price target $1 to $15 after today’s announcement they would not be applying to include Xphozah in CMS’ ESRD- PPS TDAPA
What does this mean- Our assumption is that Medicare patients will lose Xphozah coverage indefinitely starting January 2025 unless a development such as the signing law of the Kidney Patient act occurs in the interim -(this is reflected in our model)
While there is much debate amongst investors regarding weather, skipping out on the TDAPA . 1) avoid faster erosion of commercial access to Xphozah (ARDX’s take), or 2) needlessly forfeit potentially two years of Medicare patient revenues (Street’s prevailing take), one thing is clear: there’s already no path to Medicare patient coverage for Xphozah after 2027 outside of legislation or some similar development.
We also point out that ARDX dropped 30% to $5.28 in Tuesday session, which is at a deep discount to our $15 PT and equivalent to ~2X 5-year (2029) consensus Ibsrela net sales (VA, n=3), providing an opportunity to buy the weakness, particularly for investors who think Ibsrela sales could eventually approach or even achieve blockbuster peak sales (we use $748M US Peak sales in our model)
Model Impact - The only changes to our model are inclusion of 50% Kidney Patient Act PoS adjustment to 2025 and 2026 Medicare sales (estimated at 63% of the total US HP market; ARDX estimates to be less conservative at 55%) and removing Medicare sales from 2027 and 2028 (they are already removed from 2029 to 2035). As a result of these changes our price target drops $1 to $15.
Kiwi
Whalatane
2 weeks ago
Cosa ...along the lines of your argument
Kidney Care Partners Applauds Senate Introduction of Bipartisan Kidney PATIENT Act
June 12, 2024
Delay Will Ensure Continued Access to Innovative Treatments for Individuals Living with Kidney Failure
WASHINGTON – Kidney Care Partners (KCP) – the nation’s leading kidney care multi-stakeholder coalition representing patient advocates, physician organizations, health professional groups, dialysis providers, researchers, and manufacturers – today commends Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) for introducing the Kidney Patient Access to Technologically Innovative and Essential Nephrology Treatments (PATIENT) Act (S. 4510), which would delay for two years the inclusion of oral phosphate-binding medication into the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS). The Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce Committees have already passed a similar measure in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Oral phosphate-binding medications are necessary to treat hyperphosphatemia, a condition that occurs in nearly all individuals who receive dialysis treatments. If not treated, hyperphosphatemia can increase mortality, vascular calcification, and cardiovascular events
. Currently, patients can access these drugs at their local pharmacy, but as of January 1, 2025, a new policy change from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will instead require dialysis providers to distribute these medications.
KCP is concerned this policy may negatively impact patient access to care, as many dialysis providers lack sufficient infrastructure needed to dispense and administer these drugs.
“We thank Senators Luján and Blackburn for introducing this bill to ensure continued patient access to these vital medications. Without action, CMS’ policy creates yet another challenge for the kidney community to face. Already limited access to innovative treatments and inadequate reimbursement levels are impacting kidney care,” said Colin Roskey, Executive Director of KCP. “To maintain quality, accessible treatment for individuals living with end-stage renal disease, we urge lawmakers to advance this bill without delay.”
I wonder why CMS wants the dialysis providers to manage / store / dispense these oral meds .
Dialysis units usually just want to deal with what they need for the dialysis process ......all additional drugs the patient outside of their point of care ( ie while in the dialysis clinic ) takes is thru the pharmacy
Kiwi
Whalatane
2 weeks ago
How do dialysis providers save money in the dialysis bundle
Dialysis providers employ several strategies to save money within the bundled payment system for dialysis services:
Reducing use of expensive medications:. my emphasis ...why ARDX wants to delay the TDAPA process and get the Kidney Care act passed .
Providers may decrease the use of costly drugs like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous vitamin D, substituting them with less expensive alternatives when possible.
Optimizing drug dosing: Facilities carefully manage medication dosing to avoid waste and
unnecessary use while still meeting clinical needs.
Substituting with generics: Where available, providers may switch to generic versions of medications to reduce costs.
Limiting ancillary services: Non-essential services or those not directly related to dialysis may be reduced or eliminated from the bundle.
Shortening treatment times: Some facilities may attempt to reduce dialysis session durations to save on operational costs, though this can be controversial due to potential impacts on quality of care.
Reducing staffing: Facilities may try to operate with minimal staffing levels to cut labor costs.
Shifting care settings: When possible, providers may move certain services to outpatient or home settings which can be less expensive than in-center care.
Improving efficiency: Streamlining processes and optimizing resource utilization can help reduce overall costs.
Careful patient selection: Some facilities may try to select less complex patients who require fewer resources, though this practice is discouraged.
Volume management: Providers may aim to treat a higher volume of patients to spread fixed costs over more treatments.
While these cost-saving measures can improve efficiency, there are concerns that excessive focus on cost reduction could negatively impact quality of care. To counteract this, quality assessment programs and incentive payments have been implemented in some health systems to ensure that cost savings do not come at the expense of patient outcomes.
It's important to note that while these strategies can save money for providers, they must be balanced against maintaining high-quality care and meeting regulatory requirements. Policymakers and healthcare systems continue to work on refining payment models to align financial incentives with optimal patient care.
What are the main cost-saving strategies dialysis providers use within the bundle system
Sources
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Answer
Based on the search results, dialysis providers employ several key strategies to save costs within the bundled payment system:
Reducing use of expensive medications: Providers may decrease the use of costly drugs like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous vitamin D, substituting them with less expensive alternatives when possible.
Optimizing drug dosing: Facilities carefully manage medication dosing to avoid waste and unnecessary use while still meeting clinical needs.
Shifting care settings: When possible, providers may move certain services to outpatient or home settings which can be less expensive than in-center care.
Shortening treatment times: Some facilities may attempt to reduce dialysis session durations to save on operational costs, though this can be controversial due to potential impacts on quality of care.
Limiting ancillary services: Non-essential services or those not directly related to dialysis may be reduced or eliminated from the bundle.
Implementing fail-first protocols: Some centers require patients to try less expensive treatments first before accessing more costly options, like requiring oral generic drugs before intravenous calcimimetics.
Careful patient selection: Some facilities may try to select less complex patients who require fewer resources, though this practice is discouraged and partially addressed through risk adjustment in the payment system.
Shifting costs outside the bundle: Providers may attempt to move certain services or prescriptions to non-dialysis visits to avoid incurring costs within the bundled payment.
It's important to note that while these strategies can save money for providers, there are concerns that excessive focus on cost reduction could negatively impact quality of care. To counteract this, quality assessment programs and incentive payments have been implemented in some health systems to ensure that cost savings do not come at the expense of patient outcomes.
What are the challenges dialysis providers face when implementing the bundle system
Sources
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Answer
Dialysis providers face several key challenges when implementing the bundled payment system:
Balancing cost reduction with quality care: Providers must find ways to reduce costs while still maintaining or improving patient outcomes and quality of care. This requires careful management of resources and treatment protocols.
Medication management: The bundle includes previously separately billable medications like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous vitamin D. Providers need to optimize drug dosing and usage to control costs without compromising patient health.
Adapting to fixed payments: With a set reimbursement rate, providers must carefully manage all aspects of care within the bundle, including medications, laboratory tests, and other dialysis-related services.
Risk of patient selection: While partially addressed through risk adjustment, there's still potential for providers to favor healthier, less complex patients who require fewer resources.
Limited flexibility for complex cases: The bundle may not adequately account for patients with multiple comorbidities or those requiring more intensive care, potentially penalizing providers who treat more complex cases.
Rapid adaptation to treatment changes: As new technologies or treatment methods emerge, providers must quickly adjust their practices within the constraints of the bundle.
Managing outliers: Providers need to develop strategies to address patients who fall outside typical treatment patterns or require additional resources.
Financial risk management: Smaller providers or independent facilities may face challenges in managing financial risks due to their limited ability to pool risks compared to larger organizations.
Aligning incentives with value-based care: While the bundle aims to control costs, providers must also focus on improving overall patient outcomes and moving towards value-based care models.
Potential for undertreatment: There's a risk that the fixed payment structure could incentivize providers to undertreat patients or limit access to necessary but costly treatments.
These challenges require dialysis providers to carefully balance financial considerations with patient care, optimize resource utilization, and continually refine their clinical and operational practices to succeed within the bundled payment system.
What are the biggest obstacles in managing medication costs under the bundle system
Sources
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Answer
Based on the search results, the biggest obstacles dialysis providers face in managing medication costs under the bundle system include:
Balancing cost reduction with quality care: Providers must find ways to reduce medication costs while still maintaining or improving patient outcomes and quality of care.
Optimizing drug dosing and usage: With medications like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous vitamin D now included in the bundle, providers need to carefully manage dosing to control costs without compromising patient health.
Adapting to fixed payments: The bundled system provides a set reimbursement rate, requiring providers to carefully manage all aspects of care, including medications, within the bundle constraints.
Managing complex cases: The bundle may not adequately account for patients with multiple comorbidities or those requiring more intensive care and medication regimens.
Rapid adaptation to treatment changes: As new medications or treatment methods emerge, providers must quickly adjust their practices within the constraints of the bundle.
Potential for undertreatment: There's a risk that the fixed payment structure could incentivize providers to undertreat patients or limit access to necessary but costly medications.
Shifting costs outside the bundle: Some providers may attempt to move certain services or prescriptions to non-dialysis visits to avoid incurring costs within the bundled payment, which can lead to fragmented care.
Managing multiple pharmacy sources: With the inclusion of dialysis-specific oral medications in the bundle, patients may receive prescriptions from multiple pharmacies, complicating medication management.
Limited flexibility: The bundle system may restrict providers' ability to use more expensive, potentially higher-quality treatment options or newer medications.
Implementing cost-effective medication management services: Providers need to develop efficient systems for medication reconciliation and therapy management within the constraints of the bundle, which can be challenging and resource-intensive.
These obstacles require dialysis providers to carefully balance financial considerations with patient care, optimize resource utilization, and continually refine their clinical and operational practices to succeed within the bundled payment system.
How does the bundle system affect the availability of medications for dialysis patients
Sources
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Answer
The bundled payment system for dialysis care has significantly impacted the availability and utilization of medications for dialysis patients in several ways:
Reduced use of expensive medications: Providers have decreased the use of costly drugs like erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous vitamin D to control costs, while still maintaining or improving patient outcomes.
Optimization of drug dosing: Facilities carefully manage medication dosing to avoid waste and unnecessary use while meeting clinical needs.
Substitution with generics: Where available, providers may switch to generic versions of medications to reduce costs.
Potential undertreatment: There is a risk that the fixed payment structure could incentivize providers to undertreat patients or limit access to necessary but costly treatments.
Challenges with new medications: The bundle system may restrict providers' ability to use more expensive, potentially higher-quality treatment options or newer medications. For example, the anti-itching drug difelikefalin faced uncertainty about long-term funding, discouraging nephrologists from prescribing it, resulting in fewer than 1% of dialysis patients receiving it.
Expansion of home dialysis: Following the introduction of bundling, there was a slight uptick in patients starting renal-replacement therapy on home dialysis, especially peritoneal dialysis (PD), as providers sought more cost-effective options.
Increased focus on value-based care: The bundle has encouraged dialysis providers to focus on how they can achieve the best patient outcomes while restraining costs, leading to a greater emphasis on value-based care models.
In summary, while the bundle system aims to control costs, it has also created challenges in ensuring dialysis patients have access to necessary medications, particularly newer or more expensive treatments. Providers must carefully balance cost-saving measures with maintaining high-quality care and meeting patients' needs.
AI generated
Kiwi
Whalatane
2 weeks ago
How does the TDAPA process limit use of a new drug
The Transitional Drug Add-on Payment Adjustment (TDAPA) process does not directly limit the use of new drugs, but it does impact how new drugs are paid for under the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS). Here are the key points about how TDAPA works:
TDAPA provides a temporary payment adjustment for certain new renal dialysis drugs and biological products for a limited time period.
For drugs that fall into an existing ESRD PPS functional category, TDAPA is paid for 2 years.
For drugs that do not fall into an existing functional category, TDAPA is paid for at least 2 years until sufficient claims data is available for rate setting analysis.
During the TDAPA period, the new drug is paid at 100% of its Average Sales Price (ASP). If ASP is unavailable, payment is based on Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) or manufacturer's invoice.
After the TDAPA period ends, the drug is incorporated into the ESRD PPS bundled payment.
For drugs in existing functional categories, the bundled payment rate is not automatically adjusted after TDAPA ends to reflect the new drug's costs.
TDAPA is not available for certain generic drugs and drugs approved under specific FDA application types.
While TDAPA does not directly restrict drug use, the payment structure may indirectly impact utilization:
The temporary nature of the add-on payment could influence facilities' decisions about adopting new, potentially more expensive therapies.
Once TDAPA ends and the drug is incorporated into the bundle without a rate adjustment, facilities may have financial incentives to limit use of costlier new drugs.....my emphasis
The exclusion of certain drug types from TDAPA eligibility may affect their uptake in ESRD care.
Overall, TDAPA aims to balance supporting innovation and access to new therapies with maintaining the bundled payment structure of the ESRD PPS.
The time-limited nature of the adjustment and the eventual incorporation into the bundle without guaranteed rate increases could indirectly influence drug utilization patterns.
AI generated from Gov and legal sources .
Once a drug is in the dialysis bundle theres pressure on prescribers to use less expensive generic drugs whenever possible as any savings is kept by the dialysis provider .
If the Kidney Care act is passed and Xphazoh stays out of the bundle for 2 yrs ...then another 2 yrs from the Tdapa process ...they have 4 yrs without MD's facing pressure to prescribe less expensive drugs ...just my take
Kiwi
ErnieBilco
2 months ago
Here is what I see, nowhere does it mention an exercise price on any of the warrants they handed out to the hedgies. It is really based on milestones rather than share price but what I believe to be free flowing warrants that do not cost the holders a penny to exercise rather they will probably automatically convert at time of each milestone for each different class of warrant. It's really a screw the shareholders way of presenting hidden warrants to the monied investors and insiders is my guess.
, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock is, subject to the Stockholder Approval (as defined below), convertible
into a unit (“Unit”) consisting of (i) shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and, if applicable, shares of Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”), in lieu of Common Stock, (ii) a tranche A warrant to acquire shares of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Tranche A Warrant”), (iii) a tranche B warrant to acquire shares of Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Tranche B Warrant”), and (iv) a tranche C warrant to acquire shares of Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Tranche C Warrant”, together with the Tranche A Warrant and the Tranche B Warrant, the “Warrants”). The shares of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock and Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants collectively are referred to herein as the “Preferred Warrant Shares”. The Tranche A warrants for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $25 million are exercisable until 21 days following the Company’s announcement of receipt of FDA approval for Renazorb, the Tranche B warrants for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $25 million are exercisable until 21 days following the Company’s announcement of receipt of Transitional Drug Add-On Payment Adjustment (“TDAPA”) approval for Renazorb, and the Tranche C Warrant for an aggregate exercise price of approximately $50 million are exercisable until 21 days following four quarters of commercial sales of Renazorb following receipt of TDAPA approval. Subject to the terms and limitations contained in the Certificate of Designation, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock issued in the Offering will not become convertible until the Company’s stockholders approve the issuance of the Units upon conversion of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock and the issuance of all Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock (as defined below), among other items (the “Stockholder Approval”). On the tenth (10th) Trading Day (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) following the announcement of the Stockholder Approval, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into a Unit. Subject to the limitations set forth in the Certificate of Designation, at the option of the holder, each share of Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock or Series A-5 Convertible Preferred Stock shall be convertible into one share of Common Stock.
https://www.otcmarkets.com/filing/conv_pdf?id=16469095&guid=lyQ-kasTiMf6B3h