A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a rising trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs among individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining.
The report indicates that Medicare patients could potentially save $1.5 billion on ten specific prescription drugs. The trend concerning GLP-1 medications has raised alarms regarding possible shortages.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppresses appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA extended approval for the GLP-1 medication Wegovy for weight loss purposes.
Since then, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing sufficient quantities of GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, in response to increasing demand.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, commented, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, representing a significant public health shift. However, it raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the necessity to ensure that patients with diabetes maintain access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may lack national representation. In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing properties, with studies showing users can lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have made Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk among the most valuable pharmaceutical firms globally, yet high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested significantly to increase their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict the global market for these medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with estimates projecting that around 31.5 million people in the U.S.—approximately 9% of the population—will adopt these drugs by 2035.