A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 medications among individuals without diabetes, as new prescriptions for those with the condition decline.
The researchers raise concerns about potential shortages of these treatments due to this shift in prescription patterns. GLP-1 drugs, designed to mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA expanded the approval to include the use of Wegovy for weight loss.
Following this approval, major pharmaceutical companies 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 from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and others, analyzed medical records of approximately 45 million Americans who visited healthcare facilities from 2011 to 2023. Findings indicate that the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which represents a significant public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study. “However, it also raises concerns about ensuring that patients with diabetes continue to have access to these critical treatments.”
While the study utilized data from healthcare software provider TriNetX, it may not represent the entire national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, helping users achieve weight loss of up to 26%. The soaring sales of these medications have made Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk among the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, but the heightened demand has created difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to boost production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 medications will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate of about 31.5 million people in the U.S.—approximately 9% of the population—by 2035.