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, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers caution that this shift could lead to potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic hormones that regulate blood sugar and curb appetite, were originally approved for managing type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, Wegovy, a GLP-1 drug, received FDA approval for weight loss purposes.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in ramping up production to meet the surging demand for GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The research team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the fraction of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this data reflects a significant public health shift as more healthcare professionals recognize the advantages of these medications in treating obesity. However, Yeo expressed concerns over ensuring that diabetes patients maintain access to these vital treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects and their ability to facilitate weight loss of up to 26% for users.
The soaring demand for these medications has transformed Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into two of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. Nonetheless, this high demand has made it increasingly difficult for some patients to fill their prescriptions. In response, both companies have invested heavily to increase their production capabilities.
Analysts from Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030 and expect that by 2035, approximately 31.5 million people, or about 9% of the U.S. population, will be utilizing these medications.