A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a notable increase in the number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records for 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
This shift has raised alarms among the study authors about possible shortages of these treatments. GLP-1 medications, which include drugs like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, have become increasingly popular for their weight loss benefits, having gained FDA approval for such use in 2021.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, noted that while this trend indicates that healthcare providers are recognizing the effectiveness of GLP-1 drugs for obesity, it also highlights the necessity of ensuring that patients with diabetes have continued access to these essential medications.
The soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs has contributed significantly to the valuation of pharma giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. However, this high demand has resulted in challenges for patients attempting to fill their prescriptions. Both companies are investing heavily to expand their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate impacting approximately 31.5 million individuals in the U.S., equating to about 9% of the population, by 2035.