Bins of Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024. Hollie Adams | ReutersThat’s in accordance with a current survey from Evercore ISI targeted on GLP-1s, a brand new class of medicines used to deal with Sort 2 diabetes and weight problems. Between Jan. 24 and Feb. 20, the agency surveyed greater than 600 individuals who’re at the moment taking a GLP-1, contemplating the remedy or have taken it up to now however not do. The findings on how a lot sufferers are prepared to spend underscore issues about fairness in entry to the breakthrough medication 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 fashionable 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 financial savings applications that goal to cut back out-of-pocket prices for weight reduction medication, no matter whether or not a affected person has business insurance coverage protection. The bulk — almost 60% — of individuals surveyed with annual incomes of greater than $250,000 mentioned the utmost worth they’re prepared 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 mentioned the identical factor. Of that group, 64% mentioned the utmost worth they’re prepared to pay out of pocket for a GLP-1 is $50 per thirty days or much less. The utmost folks at the moment on a GLP-1 mentioned they’re prepared to pay out of pocket per thirty days was roughly in step with what they really paid for therapy, in accordance with 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 at the moment taking a GLP-1 mentioned they’re paying a month-to-month worth of $50 or much less out of pocket. Almost 75% of those that used to take one of many medication mentioned 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 medication.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 on account of price, whereas others stopped a therapy as a result of they hit their weight reduction aim or skilled negative effects.That untimely stoppage by some sufferers is one concern of sure insurers hesitant to cowl them.Nonetheless, almost half of people who find themselves at the moment taking GLP-1s mentioned they intend to remain on the medication completely. Solely 10% of these considering of taking a therapy mentioned the identical factor. Of that group, greater than 70% mentioned they intend to remain on a GLP-1 till they attain their weight reduction aim.The survey additionally requested individuals whether or not they would restart taking a GLP-1 in the event that they regain weight after stopping the drug. Nearly all of sufferers throughout all teams — these at the moment on a GLP-1, considering of it, or who used to take one — mentioned “sure.” Amongst those that used to take a GLP-1, 42% mentioned they gained “some” weight again after stopping therapy. Round 13% mentioned they gained most of it again, whereas 23% mentioned they gained all of it again. One other 23% mentioned they remained at a decrease weight after stopping the drug.That weight regain is in line with what has been noticed in some medical trials on medication reminiscent of Wegovy and Zepbound.One other a part of the survey requested individuals about whether or not taking a GLP-1 affected their consuming and ingesting habits. Greater than 70% of respondents reporting consuming much less when taking a GLP-1, no matter whether or not they have pre-existing circumstances. That refers to different well being issues, reminiscent of diabetes, bronchial asthma or hypertension.The survey discovering is not 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 therapies, reminiscent of Zepbound, mimic a couple of intestine hormone.Greater than half of these with out preexisting circumstances mentioned they drank much less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. Round 27% mentioned the therapy had no impact on their alcohol consumption, whereas 22% mentioned they abstain from ingesting. A better share — 51% — of these with preexisting circumstances mentioned they abstain from alcohol. The rest mentioned they consumed much less alcohol when taking a GLP-1. A number of research have demonstrated that sure GLP-1s curb alcohol consumption in rodents and monkeys. However extra analysis is required in people.Don’t miss these tales from CNBC PRO:– CNBC’s Gabriel Cortés contributed to this report