Cost-effectiveness analysis of 4 GLP-1RAs in the treatment of obesity in a US setting

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Ying Hu1, Shui-Lian Zheng1, Xiao-Lan Ye1

  • 1Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China.

Annals of Translational Medicine
|March 14, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Semaglutide is the most cost-effective weight-loss medication among four glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) for adults with obesity in the US. This analysis compared GLP-1RAs against no treatment using quality-adjusted life years and cost-effectiveness ratios.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacoeconomics
  • Metabolic Diseases
  • Drug Efficacy

Background:

  • Rising global obesity rates necessitate effective weight management strategies.
  • Obesity-related complications pose a significant health burden worldwide.
  • Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are emerging as key pharmacological interventions for weight loss.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of four GLP-1RAs for weight loss in adult patients with obesity in the United States.
  • To compare liraglutide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, and exenatide against a no-treatment group.

Main Methods:

  • A decision-tree model was employed to compare four GLP-1RAs (liraglutide, semaglutide, dulaglutide, exenatide) and a no-treatment group.
  • Parameters were sourced from published literature.
  • Key endpoints included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), analyzed against a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold.

Main Results:

  • GLP-1RAs demonstrated effective weight-loss outcomes.
  • Not all GLP-1RAs were cost-effective compared to no treatment at a WTP threshold of $195,000/QALY.
  • Semaglutide emerged as the most cost-effective option with an ICER of $135,467/QALY.

Conclusions:

  • Semaglutide represents the most cost-effective obesity medication among the evaluated GLP-1RAs.
  • Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.
Keywords:
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs)cost‐effectiveness analysisobesityweight loss

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