Researchers at US Columbia University have published the results of a study estimating the cost-effectiveness of Novo Nordisk’s (NYSE: NVO) injections Wegovy (semaglutide) and Saxenda (liraglutide), as well as Vivus’s (NASDAQ: VVUS) pill Qsymia (phentermine + topiramate) for weight-loss interventions in adolescents. The study utilized a simulated cohort of 100,000 obese teenagers, drawing data from clinical trials, published literature, and other databases to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for lifestyle counseling adjunct to each product and for lifestyle counseling alone. A strategy was graded as cost-effective if it cost less than USD 100,000 per QALY gained.
Findings of the Study
The study’s results indicated that at 13 months or 2 years into the interventions, lifestyle counseling showed the greatest increase in QALYs while being cost-effective. However, after 5 years, Qsymia emerged as the superior strategy at USD 56,876 per QALY gained compared to lifestyle counseling. This was significantly lower than the cost of Wegovy, which ranged from USD 1.1 million to 3.0 million per QALY gained compared to Qsymia, despite Novo’s drug accumulating the most QALYs over all three periods of time.
Call for Long-Term Clinical Studies
Based on these findings, the authors of the study are calling for long-term clinical studies for weight-loss medicines in the adolescent age group. This call underscores the need for further research to understand the long-term implications and cost-effectiveness of these interventions in helping adolescents manage their weight.-Fineline Info & Tech
