Liraglutide vs. sitagliptin add-on to metformin treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus: Short-term cost-per-controlled patient in Italy

Abstract Aim To estimate the short-term cost-per-controlled-patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus with liraglutide 1.2 mg/day vs. sitagliptin 100 mg/day as add-on treatment to metformin in Italy. Methods The percentage of controlled patients, i.e. with “HbA1c  Results Despite the higher acquisition cost of liraglutide vs. sitagliptin, at 26 weeks liraglutide resulted in a lower cost-per-controlled-patient (€1460 vs. €1820 – with efficacy from RCT – and €1593 vs. €2234 – with efficacy from a meta-analysis), as well as at 52 weeks (€2627 vs. €2649). At 78 weeks, in patients who have switched from sitagliptin to liraglutide at 52 weeks, the cost-per-controlled-patient is also lower than that of patients continuing sitagliptin for 78 weeks (€2889 vs. €3970). Conclusions Due to higher efficacy, liraglutide is associated with better cost–benefit than sitagliptin at 26, 52 and 78 weeks.