Why carry out this study?

The surge in fees of high-cost new antidiabetic drugs will likely pose a challenge for the healthcare system. There are weak supporting evidence and extensive debate regarding the best second-line agent considering long-term efficacy, quality of life, and cost. Therefore, whether new antidiabetic drugs are superior to classic ones remains unclear

This systematic review summarizes the pharmacoeconomic studies thus far performed in newer antidiabetic drugs as second-line treatment for type 2 diabetes and provides further evidence to guide treatment strategies

What was learned from the study?

Newer antidiabetic drugs appear to be generally cost-effective therapy in second-line options with T2D compared to classic antidiabetic drugs

SGLT2i was superior to GLP-1RA and DPP-4i; DPP-4i has a good safety profile and weight neutrality, making it more cost-effective than other classical antidiabetic drugs, but not as favorable as GLP-1RA and SGLT2

With the continued improvement in the accessibility and affordability of newer antidiabetic drugs, SGLT2i can be a preferred option for second-line treatment with a great future