A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a notable increase in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This trend has raised concerns about potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 drugs are designed to imitate a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded their approval in 2021 to include weight loss treatment with the drug Wegovy.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in keeping up with the surging demand for these drugs, which include names like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, along with other institutions, evaluated medical records for 45 million Americans who visited a physician between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that new users of GLP-1 medications with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, noted that this shift indicates more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which poses significant public health implications. However, this trend also heightens concerns about ensuring that diabetes patients continue to have access to these treatments.
The data for this study was sourced from healthcare software company TriNetX, though it may not represent the national landscape accurately.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, helping users achieve weight loss of up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales of these drugs has positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as leading pharmaceutical companies globally. Yet, the high demand has made it difficult for some patients to obtain their prescriptions. Both companies have invested heavily to boost production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S. likely to use these drugs by 2035, accounting for about 9% of the population.