A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions being issued to individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining.
GLP-1 medications are designed to imitate a hormone that controls blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded the approval in 2021 to include the weight loss treatment Wegovy. Following this approval, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and affiliated institutions analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicate a drop in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, from nearly 90% to over 70%, between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, remarked that this shift reflects a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, it also raises significant concerns regarding potential shortages and the necessity of ensuring that diabetes patients continue to have access to these vital treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software firm TriNetX, which may not provide a fully representative view of national trends. Over the past few years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their ability to suppress appetite and facilitate weight loss of up to 26% for users.
The surge in sales of these medications has elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the status of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, this high demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. In response, both companies have invested heavily to increase the production capacity of these drugs.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S., approximately 9% of the population, expected to adopt these medications by 2035.