ICER Questions Cost-Effectiveness of Novo Nordisk’s Diabetes Drug Rybelsus
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has questioned the cost-effectiveness of Novo Nordisk’s recently approved Type 2 diabetes treatment Rybelsus (oral semaglutide) compared to alternatives.
ICER compared the Danish drugmaker’s treatment — the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist approved by the FDA in pill form — to background therapy with Merck’s Steglatro (metformin) alone, as well as to three rival add-on therapies: Merck’s Januvia (sitagliptin), Boehringer Ingelheim’s Jardiance (empagliflozin) and Novo Nordisk’s Victoza (liraglutide).
The independent research group found that the drug isn’t equally cost-effective across the board compared with the cost-effectiveness of the other products. Its $6,103 price tag compared well to Victoza, but it is unlikely to beat out Jardiance in terms of cost-effectivenesss, ICER said.