For the Time Being, Qsymia May Be the Leading Weight Loss Drug
There are currently
five drugs on the US market that are available for
long-term weight loss. These drugs are Xenical (and
its over-the-counter version Alli), Belviq,
Contrave, Saxena, and Qsymia. Contrave and
Saxena received FDA approval during the last half of
2014, while Qsymia, Belviq and Xenical have been on
the market for more than two years. At the moment,
Qsymia may have the upper hand in the market.
In one study, Qsymia was found to be a cost-effective weigh loss approach. A well known measuring tool was used in the study. The measurement used in the cost-effectiveness assessment is the QALY. QALY is defined as quality-adjusted life-year. The QALY measures the effectiveness of a medical treatment "in terms of quality-adjusted life years gained. "Costs included the prescription cost, medication cost offsets and physician appointment costs."
Using the costs of the treatment and the QALY measure, experts can determine the cost-effectiveness or the cost per QALY of a medical treatment. Healthcare economists use $50,000 as the threshold cost for a QALY. They desire the cost per QALY of a treatments to be less than $50,000 for the treatment to be deemed cost effective. And in the above mentioned study, Qsymia's QALY cost was below the $50,000 threshold at $48,340 .
Also, investment analysts believe that Qsymia currently occupies the best position in the market, because Qsymia has slightly better insurance coverage than other obesity drugs. According to the analysts, "In 2014, Qsymia ... enjoyed a slightly better position in terms of insurance coverage [than its competitors]." This bodes well for Qsymia, at least for now. And its position in the market along with its cost effectiveness may induce more physicians to prescribe the drug.
Of course, time will tell if Qsymia can continue to be the leader in the obesity drug arena. When the other obesity drugs are subjected to a QALY-type analysis, one of them might be more cost effective.
In one study, Qsymia was found to be a cost-effective weigh loss approach. A well known measuring tool was used in the study. The measurement used in the cost-effectiveness assessment is the QALY. QALY is defined as quality-adjusted life-year. The QALY measures the effectiveness of a medical treatment "in terms of quality-adjusted life years gained. "Costs included the prescription cost, medication cost offsets and physician appointment costs."
Using the costs of the treatment and the QALY measure, experts can determine the cost-effectiveness or the cost per QALY of a medical treatment. Healthcare economists use $50,000 as the threshold cost for a QALY. They desire the cost per QALY of a treatments to be less than $50,000 for the treatment to be deemed cost effective. And in the above mentioned study, Qsymia's QALY cost was below the $50,000 threshold at $48,340 .
Also, investment analysts believe that Qsymia currently occupies the best position in the market, because Qsymia has slightly better insurance coverage than other obesity drugs. According to the analysts, "In 2014, Qsymia ... enjoyed a slightly better position in terms of insurance coverage [than its competitors]." This bodes well for Qsymia, at least for now. And its position in the market along with its cost effectiveness may induce more physicians to prescribe the drug.
Of course, time will tell if Qsymia can continue to be the leader in the obesity drug arena. When the other obesity drugs are subjected to a QALY-type analysis, one of them might be more cost effective.
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posted by Information Uncover at
10:50 AM
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