Preventing cardiovascular events with empagliflozin: at what cost?

The EMPA-REG OUTCOME study,1 as the first randomised trial to show that a glucose-lowering intervention was associated with reduced cardiovascular events,2 raises important questions for policy makers. Chief among these questions is whether the detected effect size produces a cost-effective risk reduction from the studied pharmacological approach. The study has undoubtedly brought good news for the trial funders: analysts predict that its findings will propel empagliflozin ahead of other glucose-lowering drugs in sales.