A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend where more individuals without diabetes are being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are declining. The study raises concerns regarding potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, with the FDA’s approval of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing sufficient quantities of these medications to meet the increasing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicate that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Simultaneously, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes climbed from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo remarked, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which indicates a significant public health shift. However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, although it may not represent the national landscape accurately.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reporting weight loss of up to 26%. The soaring sales of these products have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the high demand has created challenges for some patients trying to fill their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest heavily in increasing production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030. They also estimate that the adoption of these drugs will expand to around 31.5 million people in the U.S., approximately 9% of the population, by 2035.