A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights a significant shift in the prescription patterns of GLP-1 drugs, noting that the percentage of non-diabetic patients receiving these medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are declining.
The authors of the study express concern over potential shortages of these important treatments. GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and curbs appetite, were originally approved for type 2 diabetes management. However, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss in 2021.
In response to rising demand, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the leading manufacturers, are struggling to produce sufficient quantities of GLP-1 medications such as Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. Their findings revealed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
“This data indicates that more healthcare providers recognize these medications’ benefits for obesity, marking a significant public health change,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. Yeo also emphasized the need to ensure continued access to these drugs for diabetic patients.
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare analytics firm, but the results may not reflect the entire national population. In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, allowing users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in demand for GLP-1 drugs has propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, though high demand has led to difficulties for patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested significant resources to increase production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption of around 31.5 million users in the U.S., or roughly 9% of the population, by 2035.