A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend: more individuals without diabetes are being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers warn that this shift could lead to potential shortages of these essential treatments.
GLP-1 drugs work by imitating a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded the use of GLP-1 treatments like Wegovy for weight management in 2021.
However, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in producing sufficient quantities of GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to satisfy the increasing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. In contrast, the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, highlighted that this data indicates a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits these medications offer for obesity treatment, signaling a significant shift in public health. However, she also emphasized the need for vigilance regarding potential medication shortages to ensure that diabetes patients can still access these crucial treatments.
The study was based on data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends. In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite suppression effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The surged sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become two of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. Nevertheless, the heightened demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested billions in increasing their production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, estimating that about 31.5 million people in the U.S., approximately 9% of the population, will utilize these drugs by 2035.