A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. The study’s authors express concerns about potential shortages of these essential treatments.
GLP-1 medications function by imitating a hormone that manages blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. Originally approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, the FDA expanded the approval of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Since this development, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. They identified a decrease in the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, dropping from nearly 90% to just over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without type 2 diabetes surged from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, commented, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, marking 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 relied on data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not fully represent national trends.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry. However, the intense demand has made it challenging for some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies have invested heavily to increase production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030 and expect that around 31.5 million people in the U.S.—approximately 9% of the population—will be using these medications by 2035.