Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Trizepataide for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist that is used as an added treatment option to diet and exercise to improve hemoglobin A1C (HA1c) and body weight among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of Trizepatide vs. Semaglutide in patients with T2DM in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: Analyses were performed from a healthcare payer perspective using the decision tree model comparing weekly 10 mg Trizepatide injection with weekly 1mg Semaglutide injection over a 52-week time horizon. Baseline cohort characteristics, treatment effects, body wight changes, adverse drug events, and transition probabilities were collected from published literature. Direct medical costs, including the cost of medications, monitoring, follow-up, and management of adverse events were calculated using Ministry of Health and King Saud University Medical City cost data. A deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The base-case analysis revealed that after 52-weeks, Trizapatide was associated with lower cost and higher effect on HA1c and body weight. The total medical costs associated with once weekly Trizpatide, and Semaglutide were SAR 15,186 and SAR 16,822 respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for Tirzepatide vs Semaglutide was SAR - 5,453 per 1% reduction in HA1c and SAR -454 per 1 kg weight loss. Sensitivity analysis results were robust against changes in total cost, HA1c and weight reduction effects.

CONCLUSIONS: The result of this analysis indicates that once weekly Trizepataide is considered cost effective treatment option for patients with T2DM associated with obesity. Future studies are needed to evaluate the affordability of Trizepataide to be considered for reimbursement by healthcare payers in Saudi Arabia.