A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend of GLP-1 drug prescriptions among individuals without diabetes, correlating with a decrease in new prescriptions for those with the condition. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records from 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 declined from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023, while the portion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
GLP-1 medications function by imitating hormones that regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. Originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA also authorized Wegovy for weight loss in 2021. The increased use in obese patients has led to concerns among the study authors regarding possible shortages of these treatments for diabetes patients.
As demand for these drugs escalates, both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are facing production challenges. The soaring sales of GLP-1 medications have propelled these companies to become some of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical firms. Nevertheless, the heightened demand creates difficulties for many patients attempting to fill their prescriptions. Analysts from Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million individuals in the U.S. projected to adopt these treatments by 2035.