A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while the number of new prescriptions for those with diabetes is declining. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor from 2011 to 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Concurrently, the share of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
These medications, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, were initially approved for diabetes treatment. However, following the FDA’s approval of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to produce enough GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to satisfy rising demand.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, highlighted the significant public health shift as more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. Still, there are concerns about potential shortages that may affect diabetes patients’ access to these essential treatments.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects and can help users lose up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions, prompting substantial investments by both companies to expand production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected 31.5 million people adopting them in the U.S. by 2035, equivalent to about 9% of the population.