How much people are willing to spend

Demand for weight-loss drugs is booming in the United States despite their limited insurance coverage and a monthly price of about $1,000 before discounts.

But some patients are willing to pay more money than others for these treatments, and this willingness is closely related to their annual income.

This is according to a recent study by Evercore ISI that focused on GLP-1s, a new class of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Between January 24 and February 20, the company surveyed more than 600 participants who were currently taking GLP-1, were considering the treatment or had taken it in the past but had stopped taking it.

The findings on how much patients are willing to spend highlight concerns about equal access to advanced medicines while insurance coverage is low.

Includes GLP-1s Novo NordiskThe popular weight loss injection Wegovy and its diabetes counterpart Ozempic, along with Eli LillyThe popular weight loss remedy Zepbound and diabetes injection Mounjaro.

A monthly package of GLP-1 costs between $900 and $1,350 before insurance and other rebates. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have savings programs aimed at reducing the out-of-pocket costs of weight-loss medications, regardless of whether the patient has commercial insurance coverage.

A majority — nearly 60% — of people surveyed with annual incomes of more than $250,000 said the maximum price they were willing to pay out of pocket for GLP-1 was more than $300 per month.

Only about 4% of people with annual incomes of less than $75,000 said the same. Among this group, 64% said the maximum price they would be willing to pay out of pocket for GLP-1 is $50 per month or less.

The maximum people currently enrolled in GLP-1 said they were willing to pay out of pocket each month was roughly in line with what they actually paid for treatment, according to the survey. Higher-priced respondents would accept paying less among those who used to take GLP-1 or were considering taking the drug.

More than half of people currently taking GLP-1 said they pay a monthly price of $50 or less out of pocket. Nearly 75% of those who used to take one of the medications said they spent the same amount.

A small share of both groups paid more than $750 out of pocket per month for GLP-1.

The survey also asked participants how long they had been on drugs.

It is worth noting that more than 80% of those who used to take the treatment were receiving treatment for only 12 months or less. Some people stop treatment because of the cost, while others stop treatment because they achieved their weight loss goal or experienced side effects.

This early discontinuation of some patients is a concern with some insurance companies hesitant to cover them.

However, nearly half of people currently taking GLP-1 said they intend to continue taking the medications permanently. Only 10% of those considering treatment said the same. Among this group, more than 70% said they plan to continue taking GLP-1 until they reach their weight loss goal.

The survey also asked participants whether they would resume taking GLP-1 if they regained weight after stopping the drug. The majority of patients in all groups — those who currently use GLP-1, were considering it, or used to take it — said “yes.”

Among those who used to take GLP-1, 42% said they gained “some” weight back after stopping treatment. About 13% said they got most of it back, while 23% said they got all of it back. Another 23% said they remained at a lower weight after stopping the medication.

This weight regain is consistent with what has been observed in some clinical trials on medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound.

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

More than 70% of participants reported eating less when taking GLP-1, regardless of whether they had pre-existing diseases. This indicates other health problems, such as diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure.

The survey results were not surprising: GLP-1s work by mimicking a hormone produced in the intestines to suppress a person's appetite and regulate blood sugar. Some treatments, such as Zepbound, mimic more than one hormone in the intestines.

More than half of those without pre-existing conditions said they drank less alcohol when taking GLP-1. About 27% said that treatment had no effect on their alcohol consumption, while 22% said they abstained from drinking.

A larger proportion – 51% – of those with pre-existing conditions said they abstained from alcohol. The remainder said they drank less alcohol when taking GLP-1.

Several studies have shown that some types of GLP-1 limit alcohol intake in rodents and monkeys. But more research in humans is needed.

— CNBC's Gabriel Curtis contributed to this report