A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the percentage of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers have expressed concerns regarding potential shortages of these critical treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, originally approved for type 2 diabetes management, work by mimicking hormones that control blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. The FDA’s approval of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021 significantly broadened the use of these medications.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been struggling to meet the rising demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic. A study analyzing medical records from 45 million Americans between 2011 and 2023 found that the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% during this period. Concurrently, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, commented on the findings, stating that healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant shift in public health. However, this trend also raises alarms about ensuring access for diabetic patients.
The data utilized in the study originated from healthcare software company TriNetX and may not represent the national landscape accurately. In recent years, the appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1 drugs have spurred their popularity, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into the ranks of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in accessing their prescriptions. Both companies have invested heavily to expand their production capabilities.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, anticipating that around 31.5 million people in the U.S., or nearly 9% of the population, will adopt these medications by 2035.