A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals an increasing number of non-diabetic individuals being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers express concern that this trend could lead to shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps to regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, specifically for weight loss. Since then, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to keep up with the surging demand for these medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The analysis conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. The findings indicated 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 proportion of non-diabetic new users increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, stated that the data suggests healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health shift. However, this also raises concerns about ensuring that diabetes patients maintain access to these essential treatments.
The study relied on data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not represent the entire population accurately. Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity thanks to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies, but the high demand has resulted in difficulties for certain patients in obtaining their prescriptions. In response, both companies have invested billions into increasing their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with approximately 31.5 million individuals in the U.S. expected to adopt these treatments by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.