The prevalence of prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs among individuals without diabetes is increasing, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The authors of the study caution that this shift may lead to potential shortages of these treatments. GLP-1 drugs function by imitating a hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels and curbs appetite; they were originally approved for type 2 diabetes treatment but gained additional approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for weight loss with the drug Wegovy.
Since that time, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to satisfy the growing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. Their findings revealed a decrease in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, dropping from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new GLP-1 users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that these findings indicate a growing acknowledgment among healthcare providers regarding the effectiveness of these medications in treating obesity, signifying a major public health shift. However, this trend also raises worries about ensuring continued access to these treatments for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software firm TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends. Over recent years, GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity for their weight-loss capabilities, aiding users in shedding up to 26% of their body weight.
The skyrocketing sales of these drugs have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the status of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the increased demand has made it difficult for some patients to receive their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to enhance production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, expected to adopt these treatments by 2035.