A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, even as new prescriptions for diabetes patients decline. This shift raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and decreases appetite, were originally approved for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, the FDA’s 2021 approval of Wegovy for weight loss has broadened their use.
Since that approval, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to keep pace with the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, reflecting a significant shift in public health,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. “However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that patients with diabetes continue to have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
Rising sales have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the status of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies, but high demand has complicated medication availability for some patients. Both companies are pouring billions into increasing production of these drugs.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications will hit $105 billion by 2030 and estimate that around 31.5 million people in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, will adopt these drugs by 2035.