A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in prescribing GLP-1 medications to individuals without diabetes, as new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers express concern that this shift could lead to shortages of these essential treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and curtail appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA expanded approval for Wegovy, a GLP-1 drug, for weight loss purposes. Since then, companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the rising demand for these medications.
The analysis conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records of 45 million Americans from 2011 to 2023. Findings indicate that the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%. Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, highlights the significant public health shift toward recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment, yet warns of potential access issues for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, though it may not represent the entire national landscape. Over recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, with some users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales of GLP-1 medications has elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the ranks of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the heightened demand has caused difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. In response, both companies have committed billions to increase production capacity.
Analysts from Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S. expected to adopt these medications by 2035, representing around 9% of the population.