A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescribing of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. The researchers express concerns about potential shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and decrease appetite, were originally approved for type 2 diabetes treatment. However, following the FDA’s approval of the weight loss drug Wegovy in 2021, there has been a surge in demand for these treatments.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, major producers of GLP-1 drugs including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, are struggling to keep up with this increasing demand.
An analysis conducted by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. The findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% from 2019 to 2023. In contrast, the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author of the study, Yee Hui Yeo, noted that this shift reflects a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for treating obesity. However, he warned of potential medication shortages that could impact access for diabetes patients.
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not fully represent the national landscape. In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects and have been shown to facilitate significant weight loss.
The surge in sales of these medications has positioned Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as leading pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has led to challenges in fulfilling prescriptions for some patients. Both companies have invested heavily to increase production capabilities.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with expectations that about 31.5 million people in the U.S., or roughly 9% of the population, will adopt these medications by 2035.