A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a concerning trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs, with an increasing number of patients without diabetes receiving these medications while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are declining.
The authors of the study highlight worries about potential shortages of these essential treatments. GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite, were originally approved for treating type 2 diabetes. In 2021, the FDA expanded their approval to include Wegovy for weight loss.
Since this approval, both major producers, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, have found it challenging to keep up with the soaring demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include products like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The research team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center studied the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They noted a significant drop in the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, falling from nearly 90% in 2019 to above 70% by 2023. Concurrently, the percentage of new users without diabetes has climbed from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, stated that this shift indicates that healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the advantages of these medications for obesity treatment. However, it also raises valid concerns regarding medication shortages and ensuring diabetes patients still have access.
The study relied on data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, though its findings may not be entirely representative on a national level.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing properties, with some individuals losing up to 26% of their body weight. The surge in sales has elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the ranks of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical firms, yet the high demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have put in substantial investments to boost their production capabilities.
According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the global market for GLP-1 drugs is projected to reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected 31.5 million users in the U.S. by 2035, comprising roughly 9% of the population.