A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, even as new prescriptions for diabetics decline. The study raises concerns over potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA expanded their use, allowing Wegovy to be prescribed for weight loss. Since this expansion, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 drugs, such as 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 from 2011 to 2023. They found 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 proportion 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 obesity treatment, marking a significant shift in public health,” said Yee Hui Yeo, one of the study’s co-authors. She emphasized concerns about medication shortages and the need to ensure that diabetes patients continue to receive these essential treatments.
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not be fully representative of the national population. Over recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing properties, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the rising demand has complicated the availability of prescriptions for some patients. In response, both companies have invested billions to increase production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated adoption rate of 31.5 million people in the U.S., approximately 9% of the population, by 2035.