A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the number of individuals without diabetes who are being prescribed GLP-1 drugs is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining.
The authors of the study caution that this shift could lead to a shortage of these medications. GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA expanded the approval of the GLP-1 treatment Wegovy for weight loss.
As a result, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the rising demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. The findings show that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Meanwhile, the proportion of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. “However, it raises concerns regarding potential medication shortages and ensuring continued access for diabetes patients.”
The study’s data was sourced from the healthcare software company TriNetX, although it may not be fully representative nationwide.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects and have demonstrated the ability to help users lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surging sales of these medications have helped elevate Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the substantial demand has made it difficult for some patients to fulfill their prescriptions. Both companies are actively investing billions to enhance their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an anticipated 31.5 million people in the U.S., representing about 9% of the population, adopting these drugs by 2035.