A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals an increasing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions for individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records from 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
GLP-1 drugs, which were originally approved for type 2 diabetes management, mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and decreases appetite. The FDA expanded their use in 2021 with the approval of Wegovy for weight loss. As the popularity of these medications grows, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are struggling to keep pace with the rising demand, leading to concerns about potential shortages.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, noted that this shift highlights the recognition among healthcare providers of these drugs’ benefits for obesity treatment. However, it raises alarms about ensuring continued access for diabetes patients.
The soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs has positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as leaders in the pharmaceutical market. Analysts from Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for these drugs may reach $105 billion by 2030, with approximately 31.5 million Americans, or about 9% of the population, expected to adopt these treatments by 2035.