A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows an increasing number of people without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, alongside a decrease in new prescriptions for those with diabetes. This change raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and curbs appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA expanded their use by approving Wegovy for weight loss. Since then, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to satisfy growing demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023, while the number of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo remarked on the significance of the findings, stating that more healthcare providers are acknowledging the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, this shift also highlights the risk of medication shortages, necessitating continued access for diabetes patients.
The study’s data was sourced from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not be fully representative of the national landscape.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling some users to lose up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these drugs have positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as leading players in the pharmaceutical market. However, the high demand has resulted in prescription fulfillment issues for some patients. In response, both companies have invested billions to increase production.
Morgan Stanley projects that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate impacting around 31.5 million people in the U.S., or approximately 9% of the population, by 2035.