The number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
The study raises concerns about possible shortages of these treatments as GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite, were originally approved for type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss.
Since then, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing an adequate supply of GLP-1 drugs, which include medications like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the surging demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers from 2011 to 2023. The findings showed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the share of new GLP-1 users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, commented that this trend indicates more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a significant public health change. However, it also raises alarms about medication shortages and access for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent national trends.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as two of the most valuable pharmaceutical firms worldwide. However, the heightened demand has created difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested billions to increase their production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030 and anticipate that by 2035, approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, will adopt these medications.