A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals an increasing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs for individuals without diabetes, coinciding with a decline in new prescriptions for those with diabetes. The researchers express concern that this shift could lead to shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that controls blood sugar and curbs appetite, were primarily designed for type 2 diabetes treatment. In 2021, the FDA expanded approval for Wegovy, a GLP-1 medication, for weight loss purposes.
Since the approval, pharmaceutical companies, particularly Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, have faced challenges in producing adequate supplies of these drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the surging demand.
The study, conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions, analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. The findings indicated that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo commented on the findings, noting, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which is a significant public health shift. However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not be fully representative of national trends.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their ability to suppress appetite and assist users in losing up to 26% of their body weight.
Rising sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become among the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, but the increasing demand has also caused difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested heavily to enhance production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expectation that about 31.5 million people in the U.S., roughly 9% of the population, will adopt these drugs by 2035.