Insulin degludec is cost-effective

Insulin degludec (IDeg), a long-acting basal insulin, is cost-effective compared to insulin glargine U100 (IGlar), according to an economic analysis of two phase III clinical studies that was sponsored by Novo Nordisk and presented at the Diabetes UK Professional Conference.

The first study (SWITCH 1) compared IDeg and IGlar U100 combined with insulin aspart in 501 people with type 1 diabetes. After 32 weeks, patients on IDeg switched to IGlar and vice versa. The estimated annual cost saving was £13 per patient treated with IDeg with a quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain (0.0208) compared to IGlar U100. In other words, IDeg ‘was less expensive and more effective than IGlar U100.