A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals an increasing proportion of people without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 drugs, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers caution that this trend may lead to potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and reduces appetite, were originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment specifically for weight loss. Since that approval, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to keep up with the heightened demand.
The research team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other organizations examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor visit from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicate that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, commented that this shift indicates an increasing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications in treating obesity. However, it raises apprehensions about ensuring continued access for diabetes patients.
The data used in the study was sourced from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, and may not fully represent the national landscape.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing properties, leading to significant weight loss for users. The surge in sales has catapulted Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become leading pharmaceutical companies globally, but high demand has disrupted the ability of some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies have invested billions to enhance production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with the estimated number of adopters in the U.S. rising to approximately 31.5 million, nearly 9% of the population, by 2035.