Evaluating the short-term cost-effectiveness of liraglutide versus lixisenatide in patients with type 2 diabetes in the United States

Figures & data

Table 1. Percentage of patients achieving treatment targets.

	Liraglutide 1.8 mg	Lixisenatide 20 μg
HbA1c < 7.0%	74.2%	45.5%
HbA1c ≤6.5%	54.6%	26.2%
HbA1c < 7.0% and no weight gain	66.5%	41.9%
HbA1c < 7.0% with no weight gain and no confirmed hypoglycemia	65.5%	40.3%
HbA1c < 7.0% with no weight gain and systolic blood pressure <140 mmHg	49.7%	29.1%

HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin.

Table 2. Example cost of control calculation for HbA1c < 7.0% with no weight gain and no confirmed hypoglycaemia.

	Liraglutide 1.8 mg	Lixisenatide 20 μg	Interpretation
Annual drug cost (USD)	9,270	7,436
Drug cost index	9,270/7,436 = 1.25	7,436/7,436 = 1	Liraglutide 1.8 mg is one-quarter more costly than lixisenatide 20 μg on an annual per patient basis
Drug efficacy (% of patients achieving control)	66.5	40.3
Drug efficacy index	66.5/40.3 = 1.63	40.3/40.3 = 1	Liraglutide 1.8 mg is 63% more effective than lixisenatide 20 μg in terms of bringing patients to target
Cost per patient achieving control (USD)	9,270/66.5*100 = 14,152	7,436/40.3*100 = 18,451
Cost of control index (USD)	14,152/18,451 = 0.77	18,451/18,451 = 1	Liraglutide 1.8 mg costs approximately three-quarters of the amount of lixisenatide 20 μg to achieve a similar outcome
Amount spent to achieve target relative to USD 1 spent on liraglutide 1.8 mg (USD)	14,152/14,152 = 1	18,451/14,152 = 1.30	For every USD 1 spent on liraglutide 1.8 mg, USD 1.30 must be spent on lixisenatide20 μg to bring one patient to control

USD, 2017 US dollars.

Figure 1. Number needed to treat to bring one patient to target.

HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin.

Figure 2. Annual cost of control for liraglutide 1.8 mg vs lixisenatide 20 μg.

HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; USD, 2017 US dollars.