Cost‐effectiveness analysis of four glucagon‐like peptide‐1 or glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists for the treatment of adult patients with overweight and obesity in China

Abstract Aims To evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide, benaglutide, and lifestyle management for the treatment of obesity from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. Materials and Methods This study gathered clinical trial data from literature reviews of each treatment strategy for patients with obesity without diabetes, and efficacy data were synthesized using network meta‐analysis. The data were subsequently incorporated into an constructed Markov model to simulate the lifetime treatment trajectory of patients, with a cycle length of one year. The model integrated epidemiological data from China, clinical efficacy, treatment costs, and utilities, calculating the total treatment costs and quality‐adjusted life years, followed by incremental cost‐effectiveness analysis. The willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) threshold was set at three times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to $37 067.75. Sensitivity analysis and scenario analysis were performed. Results The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios compared to lifestyle management for benaglutide, liraglutide, semaglutide, tirzepatide (10 mg), and tirzepatide (15 mg) were $227 355.26, $47 994.81, $42 818.20, $72 380.49, and $89 147.19. The base‐case results indicated that, under the WTP threshold, none of the four glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) or glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP‐1RA therapies were cost‐effective compared with lifestyle management. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, under the WTP threshold, lifestyle management was the most likely to be cost‐effective. Scenario analysis showed that, in the severe obesity patient population and in first‐tier cities in China, semaglutide is the most cost‐effective treatment option. Conclusions GLP‐1 RA or GIP/GLP‐1RA are not cost‐effective for obesity treatment in China currently. Nevertheless, semaglutide exhibits relatively favourable economic potential across multiple subgroups.