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Long-term cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide for individuals with type 2 diabetes and comorbid obesity.

Diabetes Obes Metab · 2025

Last updated 2026-05-28

A study modeled the long-term cost-effectiveness of tirzepatide (TZP) at 10 mg and 15 mg doses compared to a placebo for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity in the U.S. Over 30 years, the 15 mg dose saved $1,409 and added 0.69 quality-adjusted life years, while the 10 mg dose cost $1,855 more but gained 0.60 quality-adjusted life years at a rate of $3,092 per year. Both doses were found to be cost-effective, with a 98.9% probability for the 15 mg dose and a 98.5% probability for the 10 mg dose.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalDiabetes Obes Metab, 2025
Citations3
Molecules tirzepatide
Conditions studied Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity

Abstract

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.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 40452343 ↗

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