How a lot individuals are keen to spend
Containers of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024.
Hollie Adams | Reuters
Demand for weight loss drugs is booming within the U.S. regardless of their limited insurance coverage and roughly $1,000 month-to-month worth tags earlier than reductions.
However some sufferers are keen to pay extra out of pocket for these remedies than others — and that need is strongly correlated to their annual revenue.
That is in response to a latest survey from Evercore ISI centered on GLP-1s, a brand new class of medicines used to deal with Kind 2 diabetes and weight problems. Between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20, the agency surveyed greater than 600 contributors who’re presently taking a GLP-1, contemplating the remedy or have taken it up to now however now not do.
The findings on how a lot sufferers are keen to spend underscore considerations about fairness in entry to the breakthrough medicine whereas insurance coverage protection is sparse.
GLP-1s embody Novo Nordisk‘s blockbuster weight reduction injection Wegovy and diabetes counterpart Ozempic, together with Eli Lilly’s common weight reduction therapy Zepbound and diabetes injection Mounjaro.
A month-to-month package deal of a GLP-1 prices between $900 and $1,350 earlier than insurance coverage and different rebates. Each Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have savings programs that intention to cut back out-of-pocket prices for weight reduction medicine, no matter whether or not a affected person has business insurance coverage protection.
The bulk — practically 60% — of individuals surveyed with annual incomes of greater than $250,000 stated the utmost worth they’re keen to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is greater than $300 per thirty days.
Solely about 4% of individuals with annual incomes of lower than $75,000 stated the identical factor. Of that group, 64% stated the utmost worth they’re keen to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is $50 per thirty days or much less.
The utmost folks presently on a GLP-1 stated they’re keen to pay out of pocket per thirty days was roughly consistent with what they really paid for therapy, in response to the survey. The very best worth respondents would settle for paying skewed decrease amongst those that used to take a GLP-1 or are considering of taking the drug.
Greater than half of individuals presently taking a GLP-1 stated they’re paying a month-to-month worth of $50 or much less out of pocket. Practically 75% of those that used to take one of many medicine stated they spent the identical quantity.
A small share of each teams paid greater than $750 out of pocket per thirty days for a GLP-1.
The survey additionally requested respondents how lengthy they stayed on the medicine.
Notably, greater than 80% of those that used to take a therapy had been solely on a remedy for 12 months or much less. Some folks stopped because of value, whereas others stopped a therapy as a result of they hit their weight reduction aim or skilled unintended effects.
That untimely stoppage by some sufferers is one concern of sure insurers hesitant to cowl them.
Nonetheless, practically half of people who find themselves presently taking GLP-1s stated they intend to remain on the medicine completely. Solely 10% of these considering of taking a therapy stated the identical factor. Of that group, greater than 70% stated they intend to remain on a GLP-1 till they attain their weight reduction aim.
The survey additionally requested contributors whether or not they would restart taking a GLP-1 in the event that they regain weight after stopping the drug. The vast majority of sufferers throughout all teams — these presently on a GLP-1, considering of it, or who used to take one — stated “sure.”
Amongst those that used to take a GLP-1, 42% stated they gained “some” weight again after stopping therapy. Round 13% stated they gained most of it again, whereas 23% stated they gained all of it again. One other 23% stated they remained at a decrease weight after stopping the drug.
That weight regain is per what has been noticed in some medical trials on medicine resembling Wegovy and Zepbound.
One other a part of the survey requested contributors about whether or not taking a GLP-1 affected their consuming and consuming habits.
Greater than 70% of respondents reporting consuming much less when taking a GLP-1, no matter whether or not they have pre-existing situations. That refers to different well being issues, resembling diabetes, bronchial asthma or hypertension.
The survey discovering isn’t any shock: GLP-1s work by mimicking a hormone produced within the intestine to suppress an individual’s urge for food and regulate blood sugar. Some remedies, resembling Zepbound, mimic multiple intestine hormone.
Greater than half of these with out preexisting situations stated they drank much less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. Round 27% stated the therapy had no impact on their alcohol consumption, whereas 22% stated they abstain from consuming.
A higher share — 51% — of these with preexisting situations stated they abstain from alcohol. The rest stated they consumed much less alcohol when taking a GLP-1.
A number of studies have demonstrated that sure GLP-1s curb alcohol consumption in rodents and monkeys. However extra analysis is required in people.
— CNBC’s Gabriel Cortés contributed to this report