A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a rising trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This development has raised concerns about potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar and appetite reduction, were originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss purposes.
As a result, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions studied the medical records of 45 million Americans from 2011 to 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, commented that this trend indicates healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, signifying a crucial public health shift. However, this shift also raises alarms about the accessibility of these treatments for diabetes patients.
The research utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not represent the entire national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales has propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the escalating demand has made it difficult for many patients to have their prescriptions filled, prompting both companies to invest billions in enhancing production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could soar to $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million users—about 9% of the U.S. population—by 2035.