A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates a rising trend in the number of people without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 drugs, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline. This trend raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 medications work by mimicking a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and reduces appetite. Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded the use of the GLP-1 drug Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
Since the approval, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to meet the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. Their findings revealed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from almost 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023, while the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this shift indicates a growing recognition among healthcare providers regarding the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which poses significant public health implications. However, it also highlights concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to prioritize access for diabetic patients.
The study’s data was sourced from healthcare software provider TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
In recent years, the popularity of GLP-1 drugs has surged due to their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling users to potentially lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The boom in sales of these medications has positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as some of the most valuable pharmaceutical firms globally, although the high demand has created challenges in fulfilling prescriptions for some patients. Both companies have committed billions to enhance production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million individuals in the U.S. adopting these drugs by 2035, accounting for about 9% of the population.