A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has revealed a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, coinciding with a decrease in new prescriptions for diabetic patients.
The authors of the study expressed concerns regarding potential shortages of these essential treatments as more healthcare providers begin to recognize the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for obesity management, which marks a significant shift in public health strategies. The medication class, which includes popular drugs such as Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, works by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite.
Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, GLP-1 drugs gained additional attention in 2021 when Wegovy received FDA approval for weight loss. Since then, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been struggling to meet the surging demand for these treatments.
Researchers analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes fell 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, noted that the data indicates an increased acceptance of these medications for obesity treatment, highlighting the need to ensure that diabetic patients retain access to these critical drugs amidst rising demand.
The study employed data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, though its representativeness on a national scale remains uncertain. The appetite-suppressing effects of GLP-1 drugs have contributed to their popularity, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of GLP-1 medications have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the top ranks of the pharmaceutical industry. However, this high demand has resulted in challenges for some patients in fulfilling their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest significantly in increasing production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with expectations that approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S.—equating to about 9% of the population—will adopt these treatments by 2035.