Semaglutide 2.4 mg is cost-effective compared to liraglutide 3 mg for obesity treatment in Greece
Semaglutide 2.4 mg is cost-effective versus liraglutide 3 mg for obesity in Greece, with an ICER of €12,724 per QALY gained and dominating liraglutide (better outcomes at lower cost) in 80.8% of probabilistic simulations.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Semaglutide 2.4 mg yielded an ICER of €12,724 per QALY gained versus liraglutide 3 mg. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, semaglutide dominated liraglutide (higher QALYs at lower cost) in 80.8% of simulations and reached 100% cost-effectiveness probability at a €9,000/QALY threshold.
Key Numbers
Modeled BMI >= 35 kg/m2 with >= 1 comorbidity. 40-year time horizon. 3.5% annual discount rate. Costs in 2025 euros. Outcomes in LYs and QALYs. Based on STEP-8 trial data.
How They Did This
State-transition economic model with 40-year time horizon, using STEP-8 trial efficacy data, Greek cost inputs (2025 euros), 3.5% annual discount rate, with deterministic, scenario, and probabilistic sensitivity analyses from the Greek third-party payer perspective.
Why This Research Matters
Cost-effectiveness data directly influences which peptide drugs get government reimbursement and therefore patient access. This analysis supports expanding access to semaglutide for obesity treatment in Greece, where currently only liraglutide is reimbursed.
The Bigger Picture
As GLP-1 peptide drugs become standard obesity treatments worldwide, cost-effectiveness analyses like this determine which patients get access through public health systems. The finding that semaglutide dominates liraglutide in most scenarios may influence reimbursement decisions beyond Greece.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Based on a single clinical trial (STEP-8) for efficacy inputs. Long-term outcomes projected from models, not observed data. Specific to Greek cost structure and healthcare system. Limited to patients with BMI ≥35 and weight-related comorbidities.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would semaglutide remain cost-effective in broader obesity populations (BMI 30-35)?
- ?How would the cost-effectiveness change if oral semaglutide or tirzepatide were included as comparators?
- ?Will real-world adherence patterns change the cost-effectiveness ratio compared to trial-based estimates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 80.8% dominance Semaglutide provided better health outcomes at lower cost than liraglutide in over 4 out of 5 economic scenarios modeled
- Evidence Grade:
- Health economic model based on randomized trial data (STEP-8). Strong methodology with comprehensive sensitivity analyses, but conclusions are model-dependent and specific to the Greek healthcare context.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025 with cost inputs in 2025 euros; reflects current drug pricing and healthcare economics.
- Original Title:
- Cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg versus liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in Greece.
- Published In:
- Frontiers in public health, 13, 1690211 (2025)
- Authors:
- Papantoniou, Panagiotis(2), Maniadakis, Nikolaos(2)
- Database ID:
- RPEP-12951
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cost-effective mean for obesity drugs?
A drug is considered cost-effective when the additional health benefit it provides (measured in quality-adjusted life years, or QALYs) justifies its additional cost compared to alternatives. In this study, semaglutide's extra cost per QALY (€12,724) was well below Greece's threshold of €27,117, meaning society gets good value for the investment.
Why is semaglutide compared specifically to liraglutide?
In Greece, liraglutide 3 mg is currently the only government-reimbursed obesity medication. Since semaglutide is seeking reimbursement, it must demonstrate cost-effectiveness against the existing standard. The STEP-8 trial directly compared these two GLP-1 drugs for obesity.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-12951APA
Papantoniou, Panagiotis; Maniadakis, Nikolaos. (2025). Cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg versus liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in Greece.. Frontiers in public health, 13, 1690211. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1690211
MLA
Papantoniou, Panagiotis, et al. "Cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg versus liraglutide 3 mg for the treatment of obesity in Greece.." Frontiers in public health, 2025. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1690211
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 2.4 mg versus liraglutide ..." RPEP-12951. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/papantoniou-2025-costeffectiveness-of-semaglutide-24
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.