OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the carbon footprint and clinical outcomes of once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the United Kingdom. METHODS: Using the IQVIA Core Diabetes Model, environmental and clinical impacts were projected over a lifetime horizon from the National Health Services perspective. Data from the SUSTAIN-2 (patients with T2DM) and SUSTAIN-6 (patients with T2DM and established cardiovascular CV risk) trials were used to compare semaglutide with sitagliptin and placebo, respectively. Outcomes included life expectancy measured in life-years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life expectancy measured in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained; incidence of diabetes-related complications and adverse events; carbon emissions; and incremental carbon footprint effectiveness ratios (ICFERs). RESULTS: was mainly driven by reduced complications and treatment needs. Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the results. CONCLUSION: Semaglutide offers environmental advantages over sitagliptin for patients with T2DM overall and over standard of care for those with established CV risk.
Lund et al. (2026) studied this question.