A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drugs being prescribed to individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are decreasing. Researchers caution that this shift may lead to potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and suppresses appetite. Initially approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, Wegovy—part of this class—received FDA approval for weight loss in 2021. Since then, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for GLP-1 medications like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The study, conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions, reviewed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor from 2011 to 2023. Their findings showed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo noted that the data indicates a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a notable public health shift. However, this also raises concerns about ensuring that diabetic patients continue to have access to these essential treatments.
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent the national landscape.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users experiencing weight loss of up to 26%. The surge in sales of these drugs has elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the ranks of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has made it challenging for some patients to obtain their prescriptions. Both companies have invested significantly to increase production capacity.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with about 31.5 million people—approximately 9% of the U.S. population—expected to adopt these medications by 2035.