A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the percentage of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are on the decline. This trend has raised concerns regarding the potential shortage of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs are designed to mimic a hormone that controls blood sugar levels and suppresses appetite. Originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes, the FDA expanded their use in 2021, permitting Wegovy to be prescribed for weight management.
Currently, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in producing sufficient quantities of GLP-1 medications like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic to satisfy escalating demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other organizations examined medical records for 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor visit from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes fell from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author Yee Hui Yeo expressed that the data reflects a significant shift in healthcare providers recognizing the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, this shift also highlights concerns about ensuring accessibility for diabetes patients.
The study relied on data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent a national overview. GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity in recent years due to their appetite-suppressing qualities, leading to weight loss of up to 26%.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into the ranks of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the heightened demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to boost production of these drugs.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million users in the U.S.—approximately 9% of the population—by 2035.