Pharmacy
Practice 2006; 4(3): 129-133.
available since
26-October-2006
Cost-effectiveness
of intermediate or long-acting insulin versus Exenatide in type
2 diabetes mellitus patients not optimally controlled on dual oral
diabetes medications.
Objective:
To better understand exenatide’s role in the treatment of type
2 diabetes, this analysis assessed its cost-effectiveness in comparison
to an intermediate (NPH) and long-acting insulin (glargine). Exenatide
is a recently approved medication for the treatment of type 2
diabetes for use in addition to frequently used oral diabetes
medications.
Methods: Two studies were identified by a Medline search (1996-Oct
2005) that were similar in study duration, baseline glycemic control,
population size, and primary outcomes to appropriately assess
the cost-effectiveness of either insulin in comparison to exenatide
on both glycemic and weight control.
Results: Both NPH and glargine appear to be more cost effective
than exenatide with respect to glycemic control (incremental CE
ratios -1,968 and -65,520 respectively). Exenatide appears to
be more cost effective for reductions in body weight than either
NPH (CE ratio 235) or glargine (CE ratio 128).
Conclusions Compared to intermediate and long-acting insulin therapies,
exenatide does not appear to be as cost effective for the treatment
of type 2 diabetes.
