A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline. Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans between 2011 and 2023 and discovered that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from almost 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. In contrast, the share of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. Their use expanded in 2021 when the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss. This increased interest in GLP-1 treatments has led to challenges for manufacturers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, who are struggling to meet the surging demand for these medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The study authors expressed concerns that this shift in prescribing practices could lead to potential shortages, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that patients with diabetes continue to have access to these essential treatments. The rising popularity of GLP-1 drugs is attributed to their weight-loss benefits, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight.
As sales of these medications soar, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have become among the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally, but this has also resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Analysts from Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs may reach $105 billion by 2030, with approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S. expected to adopt these treatments by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.