A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the percentage of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 drugs is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This trend raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and reduces appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA authorized the use of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications to meet the rising demand. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and various institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor from 2011 to 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, signaling a significant public health shift. However, this shift also raises alarms regarding the accessibility of these treatments for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, assisting users in losing up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring demand for these drugs has propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, but it has also made it difficult for some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to enhance their production capabilities.
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. by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.