A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates a growing number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 drugs, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are decreasing. The study authors express concerns that this shift could lead to medication shortages.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that manages blood sugar levels and curbs appetite, were initially sanctioned for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the main producers of these drugs—including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic—are facing challenges in meeting the growing demand for these medications.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. Their findings show that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this trend indicates an increased recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits these drugs offer for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health shift. However, this trend also raises valid concerns about ensuring diabetes patients continue to access these essential medications.
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare analytics company, though this data may not represent the entire nation.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing properties, with studies showing users can lose up to 26% of their body weight. The surging sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. Nevertheless, the high demand for these drugs has made it challenging for certain patients to obtain their prescriptions. In response, both companies have invested billions to increase production.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, and they expect that approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S., about 9% of the population, will adopt these medications by 2035.