Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in type 2 diabetes patients. Oral semaglutide and empagliflozin have been shown to reduce the risk of CVM in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Study Design 

Investigators calculated the cost of treatment needed to prevent 1 case of CVM for either drug by multiplying the annualized number needed to prevent 1 event by the annual cost of each therapy.  Published randomized controlled trials were used for efficacy estimates. Drug costs were calculated as 75% of the US National Average Drug Acquisition Cost listing. 

Results and Conclusions

Investigators found that the annual treatment costs were $4,797 for empagliflozin and $7,133 for oral semaglutide. The corresponding costs needed to treat were $676,385 for empagliflozin and $1,005,855 for oral semaglutide.  

Related Research

Consider these findings from similar research studies:

• In patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes on metformin, oral semaglutide was more effective than empagliflozin at reducing HbA1c but not body weight at 26 weeks (Source). 

• In patients with type 2 diabetes at increased risk of CVD, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors significantly reduced the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (Source).