How much people are willing to spend

Demand for weight-loss drugs within the U.S. is growing despite their limited insurance coverage and monthly prices of about $1,000 before rebates.

However, some patients are willing to pay more out-of-pocket for these treatments than others – and this willingness is extremely correlated with their annual income.

This is according to the newest study conducted by Evercore ISI focused on GLP-1, a brand new class of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. From January 24 to February 20, the corporate surveyed greater than 600 participants who currently take GLP-1, are considering it, or have taken it prior to now but now not accomplish that.

The findings about how much patients are willing to spend on treatment highlight concerns about equal access to breakthrough drugs, regardless that insurance coverage is low.

GLP-1s include the hit weight-loss shot Wegovy and its diabetes counterpart Ozempic, in addition to the favored weight-loss drug Zepbound and the diabetes shot Mounjaro.

A monthly GLP-1 package costs between $900 and $1,350 before insurance and other discounts. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have done this savings programs that aim to reduce out-of-pocket spending on weight reduction medications, no matter whether the patient has industrial insurance.

The majority – almost 60% – of people surveyed with an annual income of greater than $250,000 said the utmost out-of-pocket price they were willing to pay for GLP-1 was greater than $300 per thirty days.

Only about 4% of people with an annual income of lower than $75,000 said the identical. Of this group, 64% said probably the most they were willing to pay out-of-pocket for GLP-1 was $50 per thirty days or less.

The study found that the utmost variety of people currently using GLP-1 who are willing to pay monthly out of pocket is roughly consistent with what they really pay for the treatment. Highest bidders would agree to pay a skewed lower amount amongst those that were taking GLP-1 or fascinated by taking the drug.

More than half of people currently taking GLP-1 said they pay an out-of-pocket monthly fee of $50 or less. Nearly 75% of people who used one in every of the drugs said they spent the identical amount.

A small portion of each groups paid greater than $750 per thirty days out of pocket for GLP-1.

The survey also asked respondents how long they’d been shooting up.

It is price noting that over 80% of people who underwent treatment only continued therapy for 12 months or less. Some people stopped treatment due to the associated fee, others stopped treatment because they achieved their weight reduction goal or experienced unintended effects.

Premature downtime for some patients is one in every of the concerns for some insurers who are hesitant to cover them.

Still, almost half of people who currently take GLP-1 said they intended to proceed taking the drug permanently. Only 10% of people considering treatment said the identical. Of this group, over 70% said they intended to remain on GLP-1 until they achieved their weight reduction goals.

The survey also asked participants whether or not they would resume taking GLP-1 in the event that they regained weight after stopping the drug. The majority of patients in all groups – those that were currently taking GLP-1, were considering it, or who had taken it – responded “yes.”

Among people who took GLP-1, 42% said they gained “some” weight after stopping treatment. About 13% said they got most of it back, and 23% said they got all of it back. Another 23% said they maintained their lower weight after stopping the drug.

This weight regain is consistent with what has been seen in some clinical trials of medication like Wegovy and Zepbound.

Another a part of the survey asked participants whether taking GLP-1 affected their eating and drinking habits.

Over 70% of respondents say they eat less while taking GLP-1, no matter whether or not they have pre-existing conditions. This applies to other health problems reminiscent of diabetes, asthma and hypertension.

The study’s findings are not surprising: GLP-1 works by mimicking a hormone produced within the gut to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar levels. Some treatments, reminiscent of Zepbound, mimic multiple gut hormone.

More than half of people without pre-existing conditions said they drank less alcohol while taking GLP-1. About 27% said treatment had no effect on alcohol consumption, and 22% said they kept away from drinking.

A bigger percentage – 51% – of people with pre-existing conditions said they abstain from alcohol. The remainder said they consumed less alcohol while taking GLP-1.

Several studies showed that some GLP-1 reduces alcohol intake in rodents and monkeys. However, further research in humans is required.

– CNBC’s Gabriel Cortés contributed to this report