A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes have declined. Researchers caution that this may lead to potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA expanded the approval of the GLP-1 medication Wegovy for weight loss purposes.
Both 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.
The study, conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other organizations, analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. The findings indicate that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes fell from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this data suggests an increasing recognition of the benefits of these medications in treating obesity, indicating a significant shift in public health. However, she emphasized concerns regarding potential medication shortages and the necessity for diabetes patients to maintain access to these treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent the entire national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing as much as 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry. Nonetheless, the high 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 GLP-1 drugs will soar to $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate reaching approximately 31.5 million individuals in the U.S. by 2035, which represents about 9% of the population.