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Weight loss pills. Credit: Getty Royalty Free
Obesity affects more than a third of adults in the United States. Since 1980, the rate of obesity among adults has more than doubled. Reverse the trend has proved difficult. Although essential to the success of weight loss programs, diets and exercises often need to be supplemented by medical interventions, such as surgical and pharmaceutical treatments.
Over the last decade, the arsenal of pharmacological treatments has expanded to include medications such as Contrave slimming medications (bupropion / naltrexone), Qysmia (phentermine / topiramate) and Belviq (lorcaserin).
Belviq is indicated as "a supplement to lifestyle modification for long-term weight management". A recent study on Belviq showed "sustained weight loss over a median follow-up of 3 years without undue risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in the adult. "
Until now, weight loss medications were a disappointment in terms of sales.
First, persistent doubts persist after several high-level withdrawals, including the combination of fenfluramine / phentermine in 1997 and Meridia (sibutramine) in 2010. Other once promising weight loss drugs, such as Acomplia (rimonabant) have not been approved for security reasons.
Second, older drugs, such as orlistat, have had relatively unimpressed clinical and cost-effectiveness results, in addition to the side effects that some have found intolerable. And, alone, without additional behavioral therapies, weight loss medications have historically shown limited effectiveness, which has prevented physicians from prescribing these products.
Third, many insurers do not cover slimming drugs. And, according to the law, Part D of Medicare can only cover weight loss drugs.
The results of Belviq's recently published post-marketing study could change the perceptions of key stakeholders, such as doctors, patients and payers. Security data can eliminate some of the doubts about adverse events. In addition, efficacy results confirm that weight loss medications associated with behavioral therapies may be worthwhile. The The study showed a loss of 10% or more of body weight in 15% of those taking Belviq, versus 5% of placebo recipients. For the average person, the weight loss was more modest. However, even relatively low weight loss can have a significant positive impact on health outcomes.
According to the Belviq study cited above, one can calculate the amount spent per year and per pound lost, and ask if a typical person would be willing to pay the Belviq retail price of $ 280 a month, according to Belviq. the GoodRx website. A person who is insured but not for weight loss products, or an uninsured person, must assess whether the monthly purchase of $ 280 is worth it in terms of benefits or lost pounds.
According to the study, a typical person taking Belviq would lose:
6.16 pounds over one year, or $ 545 per lost book; and
8.8 pounds over 3.3 years, or $ 1,260 per lost book.
For the 15% of people in the study who lost more than 10% of their body weight, dollar amounts per pound lost would be lower.
Besides the retail price of the drug, the person should also take into account the cost of a visit to the doctor because Belviq is a prescription only product; especially the co-payment of the insured and the total cost of a visit from a doctor to the uninsured person.
Finally, it is important to ask whether, from the payor's point of view, the new clinical benefit and the new safety profile justify ensuring the product for the eligible obese population. Here's where the impact on long-term health outcomes would be taken into account by payers with a longer-term view. In the event of a refund, this would encourage more insureds to take the product because their direct costs would be lower.
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Weight loss pills. Credit: Getty Royalty Free
Obesity affects more than a third of adults in the United States. Since 1980, the rate of obesity among adults has more than doubled. Reverse the trend has proved difficult. Although essential to the success of weight loss programs, diets and exercises often need to be supplemented by medical interventions, such as surgical and pharmaceutical treatments.
Over the last decade, the arsenal of pharmacological treatments has expanded to include medications such as Contrave slimming medications (bupropion / naltrexone), Qysmia (phentermine / topiramate) and Belviq (lorcaserin).
Belviq is indicated as "a supplement to lifestyle modification for long-term weight management". A recent study on Belviq showed "sustained weight loss over a median follow-up of 3 years without undue risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in the adult. "
Until now, weight loss medications were a disappointment in terms of sales.
First, persistent doubts persist after several high-level withdrawals, including the combination of fenfluramine / phentermine in 1997 and Meridia (sibutramine) in 2010. Other once promising weight loss drugs, such as Acomplia (rimonabant) have not been approved for security reasons.
Second, older drugs, such as orlistat, have had relatively unimpressed clinical and cost-effectiveness results, in addition to the side effects that some have found intolerable. And, alone, without additional behavioral therapies, weight loss medications have historically shown limited effectiveness, which has prevented physicians from prescribing these products.
Third, many insurers do not cover slimming drugs. And, according to the law, Part D of Medicare can only cover weight loss drugs.
The results of Belviq's recently published post-marketing study could change the perceptions of key stakeholders, such as doctors, patients and payers. Security data can eliminate some of the doubts about adverse events. In addition, efficacy results confirm that weight loss medications associated with behavioral therapies may be worthwhile. The The study showed a loss of 10% or more of body weight in 15% of those taking Belviq, versus 5% of placebo recipients. For the average person, the weight loss was more modest. However, even relatively low weight loss can have a significant positive impact on health outcomes.
According to the Belviq study cited above, one can calculate the amount spent per year and per pound lost, and ask if a typical person would be willing to pay the Belviq retail price of $ 280 a month, according to Belviq. the GoodRx website. A person who is insured but not for weight loss products, or an uninsured person, must assess whether the monthly purchase of $ 280 is worth it in terms of benefits or lost pounds.
According to the study, a typical person taking Belviq would lose:
6.16 pounds over one year, or $ 545 per lost book; and
8.8 pounds over 3.3 years, or $ 1,260 per lost book.
For the 15% of people in the study who lost more than 10% of their body weight, dollar amounts per pound lost would be lower.
Besides the retail price of the drug, the person should also take into account the cost of a visit to the doctor because Belviq is a prescription only product; especially the co-payment of the insured and the total cost of a visit from a doctor to the uninsured person.
Finally, it is important to ask whether, from the payor's point of view, the new clinical benefit and the new safety profile justify ensuring the product for the eligible obese population. Here's where the impact on long-term health outcomes would be taken into account by payers with a longer-term view. In the event of a refund, this would encourage more insureds to take the product because their direct costs would be lower.
