A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 medications among individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining.
The study highlights a concern about possible shortages of GLP-1 treatments, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite. Originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded approval in 2021 to include Wegovy for weight loss.
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in meeting the increasing demand for GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Concurrently, the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, commented that the data reflects a significant shift in public health as more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of these medications for treating obesity. However, this shift also raises alarms about ensuring continued access for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, though it may not be entirely representative of the national population.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their ability to suppress appetite, with studies showing that users can lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales has propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most highly valued pharmaceutical companies globally. Nevertheless, the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. To address this, both companies have invested billions to enhance their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected increase in adoption among U.S. residents to about 31.5 million, or roughly 9% of the population, by 2035.