A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates a rising trend in prescribing GLP-1 medications to individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This shift has raised concerns regarding potential shortages of these popular treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and curbs appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, following the 2021 FDA approval of Wegovy for weight loss, the usage of these drugs has expanded significantly.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in producing adequate supplies of GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, in response to the growing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions evaluated medical records from 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes has dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author of the study, Yee Hui Yeo, highlighted that the data suggests healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health shift. However, this trend also raises worries about ensuring continued access to these treatments for diabetes patients.
The study used data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not reflect the national demographic accurately.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity due to their weight loss benefits, with users reportedly shedding up to 26% of their body weight.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have experienced soaring sales, propelling them to become two of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. Nonetheless, the high demand has complicated prescription fulfillment for some patients. To address this, both companies are investing billions to boost production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs will hit $105 billion by 2030 and expect the adoption rate in the U.S. to reach approximately 31.5 million people by 2035, which represents about 9% of the population.