A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates a significant increase in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs among individuals without diabetes, juxtaposed with a decline in new prescriptions for those with diabetes. This trend raises concerns about potential shortages of these medications.
Initially developed to treat type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs function by mimicking a hormone that manages blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. In 2021, the FDA expanded the approval of GLP-1 treatments to include Wegovy for weight loss, leading to skyrocketing demand for these medications.
Research conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans visiting healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Findings showed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, noted that this shift reflects a growing recognition among healthcare providers regarding the efficacy of these medications for obesity treatment. However, it also highlights the urgent need to ensure that patients with diabetes continue to have access to these essential drugs.
The data, obtained from healthcare software company TriNetX, may not fully represent the national landscape. Despite this, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has surged due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The immense demand has propelled firms like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry, with both companies investing heavily to increase production capacity. Morgan Stanley predicts that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected 31.5 million users in the U.S. by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.