A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals an increasing number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for diabetes patients are declining. The authors of the study express concerns over potential shortages of these treatments, which could impact access for diabetes patients.
GLP-1 drugs, which work by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar and reduces appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, the FDA expanded their usage in 2021 by approving Wegovy for weight loss.
Pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in producing sufficient quantities of GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the growing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who had at least one medical visit from 2011 to 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Meanwhile, the share of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this trend indicates a significant public health shift as healthcare providers recognize the benefits of these medications in treating obesity, yet it also raises concerns about access for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
GLP-1 medications have gained popularity in recent years for their appetite-suppressing effects and have proven effective in helping users lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk among the highest-valued pharmaceutical companies globally, but the high demand has led to difficulties in patients filling their prescriptions. Both companies have committed substantial resources to increase production.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the market for these medications could reach $105 billion globally by 2030, with an expected 31.5 million users in the U.S.—around 9% of the population—by 2035.