A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a significant shift in the prescription patterns of GLP-1 drugs, with an increasing number of individuals without diabetes receiving these medications while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are decreasing.
The study, conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions, examined medical records of 45 million Americans from 2011 to 2023. Findings indicate that the percentage of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without diabetes surged from 10% to 25%.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, the 2021 FDA approval of Wegovy for weight loss has contributed to the rising demand among non-diabetic patients. This trend raises concerns among study authors regarding potential shortages of these essential medications that could impact access for diabetic patients.
Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are currently facing challenges in meeting the high demand for GLP-1 drugs, leading to difficulties for some patients in filling their prescriptions. The soaring demand has transformed these pharmaceutical companies into some of the most valuable in the industry, with Morgan Stanley projecting that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, potentially impacting approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S. by 2035.