A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs among individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This shift has raised concerns regarding potential shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 medications are designed to mimic a hormone that manages blood sugar levels and suppresses appetite. Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, these drugs gained further traction when the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Both major pharmaceutical companies, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, are now facing challenges in meeting the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs such as Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor visit between 2011 and 2023. Their analysis indicated that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes declined from nearly 90% in 2019 to above 70% by 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-authored by Yee Hui Yeo, the study highlights the growing acceptance among healthcare providers of these medications for obesity treatment, signifying a significant change in public health. However, it underscores the potential for medication shortages and emphasizes the need to secure access for diabetes patients who rely on these drugs.
The study relied on data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, though it may not reflect nationwide statistics.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects and have been shown to help users shed up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as two of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the surge in demand has created challenges for some patients seeking to fill their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to enhance production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could soar to $105 billion by 2030, with expectations of approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S. utilizing these drugs by 2035, constituting about 9% of the population.