A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, accompanied by a decline in new prescriptions for those with diabetes.
Researchers highlighted potential concerns regarding the availability of these medications due to this shift. GLP-1 drugs function by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppresses appetite. Initially approved for type 2 diabetes management, the FDA expanded their use in 2021, approving Wegovy for weight loss.
Companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are now facing challenges in meeting the increasing demand for these medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The study involved analysis of medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while the share of new users without the condition increased from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo noted that this trend indicates a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment. However, it also raises alarms about potential shortages and the necessity for diabetes patients to maintain access to these critical medications.
The analysis utilized data from the healthcare software firm TriNetX, which may not represent the national landscape. GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-reducing effects, aiding users in losing as much as 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, although this high demand has made it difficult for some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies are investing heavily to increase production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, estimating that around 31.5 million people, or approximately 9% of the U.S. population, will utilize these medications by 2035.