A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, coinciding with a decline in new prescriptions for those with diabetes. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans from 2011 to 2023, finding that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70%. In contrast, the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25% during the same period.
GLP-1 medications, designed to mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, were initially approved for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, in 2021, the FDA expanded approval for Wegovy, a GLP-1 drug, to include weight loss applications. This shift has led to increased demand for these treatments, prompting concerns about potential shortages.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo highlighted the public health implications of this trend. “More healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, but this raises concerns regarding access for diabetes patients,” they stated.
The soaring popularity of GLP-1 drugs has significantly impacted the pharmaceutical market, with companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly struggling to keep up with demand. Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for these medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with nearly 31.5 million people in the U.S. expected to adopt the treatment by 2035.