New data show Tresiba is cost-effective option vs Lantus

A new health economic analysis of two Phase IIIb trialshas demonstrated that Tresiba (insulin degludec) is a cost-effective option for people living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes compared to insulin glargine U100 (Lantus), from French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN).

These data were presented today at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference in Manchester, UK and demonstrate that Danish diabetes care giant Novo Nordisk’s (NOV: N) Tresiba cost effectiveness is driven by its reduction in recurrent and costly episodes of hypoglycemia.

The health economics analysis was based on data from the SWITCH 1 and 2 treat-to-target trials. The SWITCH studies are the first-ever, double-blinded, crossover basal insulin studies, which were designed to assess the safety and efficacy of insulin degludec compared to insulin glargine U100 in patients at high risk of hypoglycaemia with type 1 diabetes (SWITCH 1) and type 2 diabetes (SWITCH2). The analyses measured the costs of insulin, needles, blood glucose tests, hypoglycaemic events and disutility for different types of hypoglycemic events. These measurements were used to populate an NHS-focused cost-effectiveness model.