A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the number of individuals without diabetes who are being prescribed GLP-1 medications is on the rise, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. Researchers caution that this trend could lead to potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and suppress appetite. Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the approval in 2021 to include Wegovy for weight loss.
Due to increasing demand, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The research team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions analyzed medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. They found that the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. In contrast, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this data indicates a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for obesity, signaling a significant shift in public health. However, there are concerns regarding potential shortages and the need for diabetes patients to maintain access to these treatments.
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not fully represent national trends.
GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity in recent years for their appetite-suppressing effects, with studies showing users can lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The surge in sales of these medications has made Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk two of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. However, high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. In response, both companies have invested billions to increase their production capacity.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S., or around 9% of the population, likely to adopt these treatments by 2035.