A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers express concern over potential shortages of these medications due to this shift.
GLP-1 drugs, initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, function by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and curbs appetite. The FDA expanded their use in 2021 with the approval of Wegovy for weight loss.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in meeting the increasing demand for GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The study, conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions, examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor’s visit from 2011 to 2023. Findings indicate that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo noted, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are seeing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which is a significant public health shift. However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent the national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, helping users shed up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become leading pharmaceutical companies globally, although the heightened demand has hindered some patients from filling their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions to boost their production efforts.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected 31.5 million people, or about 9% of the U.S. population, adopting these treatments by 2035.