A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has revealed a significant increase in the prescribing of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. The authors of the study caution that this shift could lead to potential shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 medications function by mimicking a hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels and curb appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded the use of the GLP-1 drug Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions reviewed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. The study found that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 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 obesity treatment, indicating a significant public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. “However, this also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and highlights the necessity of ensuring that patients with diabetes can access these treatments.”
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not fully represent the national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, aiding users in losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become among the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the high demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested billions to increase production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate of about 31.5 million people in the U.S., which is roughly 9% of the population, by 2035.