I was a pharma rep for almost a decade across a few different companies from small and private to very large. I remember one interview I went on where I sat with the hiring manager in a hotel meeting room for an hour or so going over my resume. He seemed to be only mildly interested in me as a candidate and was just kind of going through the motions. He had one or two unique questions most people would not be expecting. I get done and walk back to fill something out he needed each candidate to leave at the front desk before leaving. In walked a tall brunette bombshell, looking ready to interview. My first thought was why would she be trying to become a sales rep when she could be modeling. She sat down and I asked her if she was here for the same job. She was. I went ahead and told her about the unique questions because I knew the guy was going to want to hire her and I had no chance. I did see her out repping not that long after.

That being said, I found the industry to still be full of good people with good intentions despite the sometimes obvious examples otherwise. Like any industry there are people who are good at what they do and people who are not. People who want to be there and people who could care less and just want a check. I met a lot of doctors across multiple states and there are plenty that I wouldn't send a family member to after seeing how they operate and what they know. I don't see pharmaceutical companies in the negative light a lot of people do. Yes, there are problems and a lot of changes could be made that would benefit the buying public. As a whole though, they are trying to make money like any other business in any other field. It takes a lot of money and a lot of time to get a drug to market let alone a drug that can make billions. They're going to squeeze until there's nothing left to squeeze. We'd all do the same (at least to some extent) and businesses in other industries do too.

What does that mean for Cytodyn? Well, for all we know and believe about Leronlimab, it's walking into the FDA like me for my interview. Unknown, very talented (a little humble brag never hurts, eh?), and worthy of being the choice. But there are flashier, prettier drugs. There are friends of friends asking for favors, people in powerful positions looking to better themselves or their family by steering the role to someone they'd like. It's an uphill battle. It's not the easy path others get to take.

As a result, Cytodyn has to go back and regroup, look for its next opportunity and try to grab that. Every time it happens they learn a little more about the process and get better at answering questions and promoting themselves. (We see that in some ways now with involving more of BP and JL, and even with NP who seems to get more poised from call to call) They gather more data and build a stronger and stronger case. Eventually, they can't be denied and we find out that the flashier product/company is still there but the momentum is gone. The luster has worn off. People have begun to realize they might have been wrong about that candidate Leronlimab they keep seeing and hearing more about...

We are mere weeks away from walking back into the FDA, mic-dropping our data, and walking away with approval like Kaiser Soze. Keep your eyes on the prize and try not to sweat the fact that larger, more well connected players are getting the first crack. It won't be "ignored" for long.