A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the proportion of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. The authors of the study express concerns that this shift may lead to shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which initially gained approval for treating type 2 diabetes, function by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. In 2021, Wegovy became the first GLP-1 treatment authorized for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are reportedly facing challenges in meeting the demand for their GLP-1 treatments, including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical histories of 45 million Americans who visited doctors from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes declined from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023. Conversely, the share of new GLP-1 users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. “However, this trend also raises alarms about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure continued access for diabetes patients.”
The study utilized data from the healthcare software firm TriNetX, but it may not be fully representative of the national demographic.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
Explosive sales of these drugs have positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as two of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. Nonetheless, the high demand has led to difficulties in medication fulfillment for some patients. Both companies are investing billions to increase their production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate of around 31.5 million individuals in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, by 2035.