A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a notable increase in the number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for diabetes patients are declining. This trend raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs emulate a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar and reducing appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA authorized Wegovy for weight loss in 2021, expanding the usage of GLP-1 medications.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in meeting the rising 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 a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They discovered that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes fell from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this shift indicates a growing recognition by healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for treating obesity. However, it also raises alarms about ensuring that diabetes patients maintain access to these critical treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not be fully representative of the national landscape.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, yet the high demand has resulted in challenges for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to increase production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate of about 31.5 million people in the U.S. by 2035, representing approximately 9% of the population.