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 on the decline.
The study’s authors caution that this shift could potentially lead to shortages of these medications. GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded the use of GLP-1 treatment Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in keeping up with the high demand for GLP-1 medications, which include products like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans visiting doctors from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated a drop in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes from almost 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this data indicates a shift among healthcare providers recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, a significant public health change. However, this trend also raises concerns about access to these treatments for patients with diabetes.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may lack national representation.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, supporting users in achieving weight loss of up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into positions as two of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, although the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions to increase production of these medications.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate of approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S., which represents about 9% of the population, by 2035.