A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that the proportion of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. The authors of the study express concerns that this shift may lead to potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs are designed to imitate a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and decreases appetite. Originally approved for type 2 diabetes management, the FDA expanded their use in 2021 to include weight loss with the approval of Wegovy.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in meeting the soaring demand for GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the advantages of these medications for obesity treatment, marking an essential public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. However, she noted concerns regarding potential medication shortages and the necessity of ensuring that diabetes patients retain access to these treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not completely represent the national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with evidence showing that users can lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales of these medications has established Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as two of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical firms. However, the heightened demand has posed difficulties for some patients in accessing their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions of dollars to boost their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030. They also expect that the uptake of these medications will extend to approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S., which corresponds to about 9% of the population, by 2035.