A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 medications to individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline. The research highlights concerns about possible shortages of these treatments, which are designed to mimic a hormone that controls blood sugar levels and reduces appetite.
Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the GLP-1 medication Wegovy gained FDA approval in 2021 for weight management. Since then, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the surging demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the share of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, indicated that the data shows a significant shift in healthcare providers recognizing the benefits of these medications for combating obesity. However, this trend also raises alarms about access for diabetes patients who require these treatments.
The study’s data was sourced from the healthcare software company TriNetX, although it may not fully represent national trends. GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing properties, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of GLP-1 drugs have led to Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk becoming some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, yet the high demand has made it difficult for some patients to get their prescriptions filled. Both companies have invested heavily to increase production capacities.
Morgan Stanley predicts that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with expectations that around 31.5 million people in the U.S. will adopt these medications by 2035, accounting for approximately 9% of the population.