The number of individuals without diabetes receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 drugs is on the rise, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers express concerns that this trend might lead to shortages of these treatments. GLP-1 medications, which help regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were initially approved for type 2 diabetes management. However, since the FDA’s approval of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021, demand has surged.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in producing sufficient numbers of GLP-1 drugs, including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet increasing demand.
The study, conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions, reviewed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor from 2011 to 2023. They discovered that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes climbed from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, stated that the data indicates a growing acceptance of these medications for obesity treatment, reflecting a significant shift in public health perspectives. However, it also highlights the necessity of ensuring that diabetic patients continue to have access to these essential treatments.
The research utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent the national landscape. Over recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, allowing users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have seen their sales soar, positioning them among the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, but the heightened demand has made it difficult for some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies have pledged billions to increase their production capacity for these medications.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people—roughly 9% of the U.S. population—expected to adopt these drugs by 2035.