A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the proportion of individuals without diabetes receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs is increasing, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are declining.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and associated institutions reviewed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare professionals between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicate a drop in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without type 2 diabetes surged from 10% to 25% during the same period.
This shift raises concerns regarding possible shortages of these important medications, which include popular drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, originally developed to manage diabetes but now also gaining attention for weight loss. Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, suggests that the growing recognition of the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment represents a notable public health change. However, it is critical to ensure that patients with diabetes continue to access these essential therapies.
The increase in popularity of GLP-1 drugs, known for their appetite-suppressing effects and ability to facilitate significant weight loss, has rapidly propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into the ranks of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. Nevertheless, this soaring demand has led to challenges for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest heavily in boosting production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project the global market for GLP-1 drugs to reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million users in the U.S. by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.