Tirzepatide vs semaglutide for obesity in Greece: no significant cost-effectiveness difference over 72 weeks
Over 72 weeks, semaglutide had lower cost per responder at modest weight loss targets while tirzepatide was favored at higher weight loss goals (≥25-30%), but differences were not statistically significant.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Tirzepatide cost €5,646 vs semaglutide €3,202 over 72 weeks. Semaglutide showed numerically lower cost per responder at ≥10% weight loss; tirzepatide was favored at ≥25-30% targets. Probabilistic analysis showed no statistically significant difference at any threshold.
Key Numbers
Weight loss targets: >= 10%, >= 15%, >= 20%, >= 25%, >= 30%. Based on SURMOUNT-5 phase 3b trial over 72 weeks. Greek payer (EOPYY) perspective. Direct medical costs only.
How They Did This
Short-term cost-effectiveness analysis from the Greek third-party payer perspective using SURMOUNT-5 trial data (72-week, phase 3b, head-to-head) comparing direct medical costs and weight loss target achievement rates.
Why This Research Matters
With two competing GLP-1-based obesity drugs now available, healthcare systems need data to guide coverage decisions. This analysis suggests the choice between tirzepatide and semaglutide may depend more on individual weight loss goals than overall cost-effectiveness.
The Bigger Picture
As the peptide-based obesity drug market expands with multiple options, pharmacoeconomic analyses are essential for guiding both clinical practice and policy. This study suggests tirzepatide and semaglutide offer comparable value, with the optimal choice depending on the weight loss ambition of individual patients.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Short 72-week horizon does not capture long-term outcomes or complications prevented. Greek-specific pricing may not apply elsewhere. Based on a single head-to-head trial. Only direct medical costs included; indirect costs (productivity, comorbidity reduction) were excluded.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would a longer time horizon with obesity-related complication modeling change the cost-effectiveness comparison?
- ?How would real-world adherence and discontinuation rates affect these results?
- ?Does tirzepatide's greater weight loss at higher thresholds translate to proportionally greater long-term health benefits?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- No significant difference Tirzepatide and semaglutide showed overlapping cost-effectiveness at all weight loss thresholds over 72 weeks in Greece
- Evidence Grade:
- Cost-effectiveness analysis based on head-to-head phase 3b trial data (SURMOUNT-5). Strong clinical evidence base but economic conclusions are model-dependent and context-specific to Greek pricing.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025; uses SURMOUNT-5 data and 2025 Greek drug pricing.
- Original Title:
- A Short-Term Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Tirzepatide Versus Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity in Greece.
- Published In:
- Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(16) (2025)
- Authors:
- Papantoniou, Panagiotis(2), Maniadakis, Nikolaos(2)
- Database ID:
- RPEP-12950
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is more cost-effective for obesity: tirzepatide or semaglutide?
It depends on the weight loss goal. Semaglutide was numerically cheaper per patient achieving ≥10% weight loss, while tirzepatide was more cost-effective for patients targeting ≥25-30% weight loss. However, the differences were not statistically significant, suggesting both offer comparable economic value.
Why does tirzepatide cost more but sometimes show better value?
Tirzepatide has a higher drug price (€5,646 vs €3,202 over 72 weeks) but achieves higher rates of extreme weight loss (≥25-30%). When you divide cost by the number of patients hitting these ambitious targets, tirzepatide's cost per successful outcome becomes competitive because more patients reach the goal.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-12950APA
Papantoniou, Panagiotis; Maniadakis, Nikolaos. (2025). A Short-Term Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Tirzepatide Versus Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity in Greece.. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 13(16). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13162011
MLA
Papantoniou, Panagiotis, et al. "A Short-Term Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Tirzepatide Versus Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity in Greece.." Healthcare (Basel, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13162011
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "A Short-Term Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Tirzepatide Vers..." RPEP-12950. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/papantoniou-2025-a-shortterm-costeffectiveness-analysis
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.