Look at the research on affordability, coverage and the economics of treatment.
7 cited sources24 recorded findingsStudy findings updated
AI-assisted research summary. These summaries are for general information. Read the original source for the full study and its limitations.
THE SHORT VERSION
What’s worth knowing.
The key findings, what they mean, and the context that matters.
THE HEADLINE TAKEAWAY
Private access was 47.8% for Australian GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes
During May 2024-April 2025, 47.8% of access was private overall, including 26.9% of semaglutide access and all tirzepatide access.
Australian use of GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes. Actual patient payments and the treatment indication for each use are not available in this summary.
See the evidence
Private access to GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes in Australia during May 2024-April 2025
47.8% privately accessed overall; 26.9% of semaglutide and all tirzepatide
Falster, Michael O et al.. Trends in publicly subsidized and private access to GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes in Australia, 2020-2025.. British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2026.
Expanded indications and Medicare coverage coincided with more Wegovy fills
The policy changes were associated with additional Wegovy fills by September 2024; Medicare Part D utilization increased.
This is a policy-period association, not evidence that policy alone caused the increase. The comparison used to estimate additional fills is not available in this summary. Patient counts, payments and reasons for individual fills are not available in this summary.
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Estimated additional Wegovy fills associated with expanded FDA indications and Medicare coverage by September 2024
592,624 additional fills
Scannell, Christopher et al.. Changes in Semaglutide Fills Following Expanded FDA and Medicare Policies.. The American journal of managed care. 2026.
GLP-1 medicines accounted for 42.7% of Croatia's noninsulin antidiabetic spending
In Croatia in 2024, expenditure was €42.07 million, or 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spending; utilization was 16.1% of total prescriptions.
These are national utilization and expenditure totals. The split between insurer and patient spending, and individual affordability, are not available in this summary.
See the evidence
National expenditure on GLP-1 RAs in Croatia in 2024
€42.07 million; 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spending
Belančić, Andrej et al.. Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.. The Journal of international medical research. 2026.
15.99 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day; 16.1% of total prescriptions
Belančić, Andrej et al.. Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.. The Journal of international medical research. 2026.
Lower healthcare costs excluding tirzepatide did not establish net savings
-$319 per person per month (25.4% reduction)
At 12-18 months, changes in all-cause healthcare costs differed by -$319 per person per month for tirzepatide users versus matched untreated controls. Tirzepatide costs were excluded; inpatient or emergency visits were also less frequent.
Older adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes. This was a propensity score-matched cohort analysis; because tirzepatide was excluded, total net savings were not measured.
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Difference-in-differences estimate for all-cause healthcare costs excluding tirzepatide at 12-18 months versus propensity score-matched untreated controls
-$319 per person per month (25.4% reduction) 95% CI: -$544 to -$94
Upadhyay, Navneet et al.. Trends in Cost of Care With Tirzepatide in Adults Aged Over 55 Years With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Analysis.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2026.
Inpatient/emergency department visit incidence with tirzepatide versus untreated controls during 12-18 months
IRR 0.69 95% CI: 0.50-0.94
Upadhyay, Navneet et al.. Trends in Cost of Care With Tirzepatide in Adults Aged Over 55 Years With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Analysis.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2026.
Peru's semaglutide estimate used a high-cost retail scenario
The semaglutide 2.4 mg estimate was S/16,804.86 per patient in year 1 and S/18,135.52 per patient in a maintenance year.
A supplementary high-cost non-governmental retail scenario, not an expected institutional procurement estimate. Observed patient payments are not available in this summary.
See the evidence
Semaglutide 2.4 mg costs in a supplementary high-cost non-governmental retail scenario, not an expected institutional procurement estimate.
S/16,804.86 per patient in year 1; S/18,135.52 per patient in a maintenance year
Vera Ponce, Victor J. Projected budget impact of pharmacotherapy scenarios for obesity and related conditions in Peru: A national survey analysis of 76,819 participants.. Obesity pillars. 2026.
Cost-effectiveness results changed by treatment and obesity class
For class I-II obesity, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty was cost-effective versus semaglutide; the analysis favored semaglutide over intragastric balloon therapy.
Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was also cost-effective versus endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for class II-III obesity. The design and assumptions are not available in this summary.
See the evidence
Cost-effectiveness of endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty versus semaglutide for class I-II obesity
£7,267/QALY
Afentou, Nafsika et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies Compared with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Semaglutide.. Obesity surgery. 2026.
Afentou, Nafsika et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies Compared with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Semaglutide.. Obesity surgery. 2026.
Cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy versus endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for class II-III obesity
£10,593/QALY
Afentou, Nafsika et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies Compared with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Semaglutide.. Obesity surgery. 2026.
Matched tirzepatide users had lower healthcare costs excluding tirzepatide
-$319 per person per month (25.4% reduction)
Healthcare cost changes for tirzepatide users differed from matched untreated controls by -$145 per person per month at 6-12 months and -$319 at 12-18 months, with tirzepatide excluded; inpatient or emergency visit incidence was also lower later.
Older adults with obesity or overweight without diabetes. This was a propensity score-matched cohort analysis, and tirzepatide costs were excluded.
Study details & original results
Upadhyay, Navneet et al.. Trends in Cost of Care With Tirzepatide in Adults Aged Over 55 Years With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Analysis.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2026.
Difference-in-differences estimate for all-cause healthcare costs excluding tirzepatide at 6-12 months versus propensity score-matched untreated controls
-$145 per person per month (12.3% reduction) 95% CI: -$266 to -$25
Difference-in-differences estimate for all-cause healthcare costs excluding tirzepatide at 12-18 months versus propensity score-matched untreated controls
-$319 per person per month (25.4% reduction) 95% CI: -$544 to -$94
Inpatient/emergency department visit incidence with tirzepatide versus untreated controls during 12-18 months
Policy expansion was associated with a large rise in Wegovy fills
By September 2024, expanded indications and Medicare coverage were associated with additional Wegovy fills. Overall utilization rose 136.4% compared with the prepolicy period; Medicare Part D utilization also increased.
A policy-period utilization association. The comparison used to estimate additional fills is not available in this summary. Fill counts are not patient counts, and patient payments and health outcomes are not available in this summary.
Study details & original results
Scannell, Christopher et al.. Changes in Semaglutide Fills Following Expanded FDA and Medicare Policies.. The American journal of managed care. 2026.
Estimated additional Wegovy fills associated with expanded FDA indications and Medicare coverage by September 2024
592,624 additional fills
Relative increase in Wegovy utilization compared with the prepolicy period
136.4% increase
Relative increase in Wegovy utilization through Medicare Part D
GLP-1 medicines accounted for 42.7% of Croatia's noninsulin antidiabetic spending
In Croatia in 2024, expenditure was €42.07 million and 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spending; utilization was 16.1% of prescriptions.
National utilization and expenditure totals. The division between insurer and patient spending, and affordability for individual users, are not available in this summary.
Study details & original results
Belančić, Andrej et al.. Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.. The Journal of international medical research. 2026.
National expenditure on GLP-1 RAs in Croatia in 2024
€42.07 million; 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spending
National GLP-1 RA utilization in Croatia in 2024
15.99 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day; 16.1% of total prescriptions
Peru's liraglutide and semaglutide estimates used high-cost retail scenarios
At hypothetical 100% coverage, the projected annual gross medication-acquisition budget for liraglutide under the broad criterion was S/142.95 billion. A separate semaglutide 2.4 mg scenario was S/16,804.86 per patient in year 1.
The projection used 76,819 pooled survey records. Both used high-cost non-governmental retail scenarios, not expected institutional procurement estimates; they concern different medicines and scales.
Study details & original results
Vera Ponce, Victor J. Projected budget impact of pharmacotherapy scenarios for obesity and related conditions in Peru: A national survey analysis of 76,819 participants.. Obesity pillars. 2026.
Projected annual gross medication-acquisition budgets at hypothetical 100% coverage. Naltrexone/bupropion used an IETSI-reported scenario; liraglutide was a high-cost non-governmental retail scenario rather than an expected institutional procurement estimate, and phentermine/topiramate was an exploratory supplementary comparator.
Broad criterion: S/142.95 billion for liraglutide, S/23.65 billion for naltrexone/bupropion, and S/26.83 billion for phentermine/topiramate; pragmatic priority: S/57.95 billion, S/9.59 billion, and S/10.88 billion, respectively
Semaglutide 2.4 mg costs in a supplementary high-cost non-governmental retail scenario, not an expected institutional procurement estimate.
S/16,804.86 per patient in year 1; S/18,135.52 per patient in a maintenance year
Survey-observable candidate populations in Peru estimated from pooled ENDES 2022-2024 data comprising 76,819 records.
7.54 million adults with BMI-defined obesity; 9.04 million meeting the broad criterion; 3.67 million meeting pragmatic priority
Dates show when findings were added here, not when papers were published. Study populations and comparisons differ.
WHEN YOU WANT TO GO DEEPERSee all 24 findingsOriginal results, comparisons and study details.
7 of 7 source groupsFindings stay together with their study.
SOURCE 063 findings
Upadhyay, Navneet et al.. Trends in Cost of Care With Tirzepatide in Adults Aged Over 55 Years With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Analysis.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2026.
Belančić, Andrej et al.. Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.. The Journal of international medical research. 2026.
15.99 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day; 16.1% of total prescriptionsSource [5]
National expenditure on GLP-1 RAs in Croatia in 2024
Added
€42.07 million; 42.7% of total noninsulin antidiabetic spendingSource [5]
SOURCE 043 findings
Vera Ponce, Victor J. Projected budget impact of pharmacotherapy scenarios for obesity and related conditions in Peru: A national survey analysis of 76,819 participants.. Obesity pillars. 2026.
Survey-observable candidate populations in Peru estimated from pooled ENDES 2022-2024 data comprising 76,819 records.
Added
7.54 million adults with BMI-defined obesity; 9.04 million meeting the broad criterion; 3.67 million meeting pragmatic prioritySource [4]
Projected annual gross medication-acquisition budgets at hypothetical 100% coverage. Naltrexone/bupropion used an IETSI-reported scenario; liraglutide was a high-cost non-governmental retail scenario rather than an expected institutional procurement estimate, and phentermine/topiramate was an exploratory supplementary comparator.
Added
Broad criterion: S/142.95 billion for liraglutide, S/23.65 billion for naltrexone/bupropion, and S/26.83 billion for phentermine/topiramate; pragmatic priority: S/57.95 billion, S/9.59 billion, and S/10.88 billion, respectivelySource [4]
All 3 findings from this source
Semaglutide 2.4 mg costs in a supplementary high-cost non-governmental retail scenario, not an expected institutional procurement estimate.
Added
S/16,804.86 per patient in year 1; S/18,135.52 per patient in a maintenance yearSource [4]
SOURCE 034 findings
Falster, Michael O et al.. Trends in publicly subsidized and private access to GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes in Australia, 2020-2025.. British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2026.
Afentou, Nafsika et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies Compared with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Semaglutide.. Obesity surgery. 2026.
Afentou, Nafsika et al.. Cost-Effectiveness of Endoscopic Bariatric Therapies Compared with Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and Semaglutide.. Obesity surgery. 2026.
Falster, Michael O et al.. Trends in publicly subsidized and private access to GLP-1 medicines indicated for type 2 diabetes in Australia, 2020-2025.. British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2026.
Vera Ponce, Victor J. Projected budget impact of pharmacotherapy scenarios for obesity and related conditions in Peru: A national survey analysis of 76,819 participants.. Obesity pillars. 2026.
Belančić, Andrej et al.. Trends in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist utilization and expenditure in Croatia.. The Journal of international medical research. 2026.
Upadhyay, Navneet et al.. Trends in Cost of Care With Tirzepatide in Adults Aged Over 55 Years With Obesity or Overweight Without Diabetes: A Matched Cohort Analysis.. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2026.
Study findings are generated with AI assistance and have not been reviewed by a clinician. The date on each finding records when it was added to this monitor; it is not the publication date or a clinical review date.
This monitor does not offer individual treatment advice. Bring personal health questions to a qualified clinician.
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