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 new prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline. This development has raised concerns about potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 medications, which imitate a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels and curbs appetite, were originally authorized for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, for weight loss as well.
Demand for GLP-1 drugs has surged, leading both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to face challenges in keeping up with production. The medications included in this category are Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other organizations examined medical records from 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor visit from 2011 to 2023. The findings indicated that the proportion of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes fell from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Concurrently, those without diabetes receiving these prescriptions increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, noted that this data reflects a significant shift in public health, as more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of GLP-1 drugs for obesity treatment. However, this trend also brings up concerns about ensuring that diabetic patients continue to have access to these essential medicines.
The study’s data was sourced from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent national trends accurately.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, showing potential for users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have made Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk among the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested substantially to increase production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S. likely to use these medications by 2035, representing roughly 9% of the population.