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Updated: Sep 19, 2025

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
Published on: May 30, 2025
Long-term cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide for individuals with type 2 diabetes and comorbid obesity
Man Tang1, Lizheng Shi1, Dawei Guan2
1Department of Health Policy and Management, Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisianna, USA.
Objectives:
This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide (TZP) 10 and 15 mg once weekly (QW) compared to placebo among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and comorbid obesity in the United States (US).
Research Design And Methods:
The Building, Relating, Assessing and Validating Outcomes (BRAVO) Diabetes Model was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of the two TZP doses in individuals with T2D and comorbid obesity from the US healthcare perspective, using a 30-year time horizon. Treatment effects were derived from the SURMOUNT-2 trial and assumed to persist for 5 years. Cost estimates were based on trial data and medication prices from GoodRx. Health utilities for diabetes-related complications were obtained from existing literature. One-way sensitivity analysis and probability sensitivity analysis (PSA) were conducted to examine the robustness. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at $100 000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.
Results:
Compared with placebo, TZP 15 mg QW gained 0.69 QALYs, 0.58 life-years and a cost saving of $1409. TZP 10 mg QW gained 0.60 QALYs, 0.49 life-years and increased costs by $1855, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICERs) of $3092 per QALY. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of results. The probability of cost-effectiveness was 98.9% for TZP 15 mg QW and 98.9% for TZP 10 mg QW had 98.5%.
Conclusion:
Compared with placebo, both TZP 15 mg and 10 mg QW are cost-effective options for individuals with T2D and comorbid obesity.
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