Once-weekly semaglutide is a ‘cost-effective’ treatment option for type 2 diabetes, study shows

New research has revealed that once-weekly semaglutide one mg is a more cost-effective way to treat type 2 diabetes compared to insulin aspart.

During the study, long-term outcomes were projected over a person’s lifetimes using the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model. SUSTAIN 11 was used to inform baseline cohort characteristics and treatment effects.

The participants were modelled to receive once-weekly semaglutide plus basal insulin for three years before intensifying to basal-bolus insulin, compared with basal-bolus insulin for lifetimes in the aspart arm.

Costs were accounted from a healthcare payer perspective in the UK, expressed in 2021 pounds sterling (GBP).

According to the results, once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg was associated with improvements in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 0.18 quality-adjusted life years versus insulin aspart, due to a reduced incidence and delayed time to onset of diabetes-related complications.

The results state: “Direct costs were estimated to be GBP 800 higher with semaglutide, with higher treatment costs partially offset by cost savings from avoidance of diabetes-related complications.

“Once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg was therefore associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of GBP 4457 per QALY gained versus insulin aspart.”

To access the entire study, click here.