A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates a rising trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes appear to be declining. Researchers warn that this shift could lead to potential shortages of these medications.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and curb appetite, were initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, received FDA approval for weight loss purposes.
Since that approval, pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the growing demand.
A team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023. Their findings revealed a drop in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, decreasing from nearly 90% in 2019 to more than 70% by 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this data indicates a significant public health shift, as more healthcare providers recognize the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, it also raises alarm about ensuring continued access for diabetes patients who rely on these treatments.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent a national sample.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressant effects and ability to aid in weight loss of up to 26% for users. Sales of these medications have skyrocketed, elevating Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the ranks of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. High demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest billions to increase production.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption rate among 31.5 million U.S. residents by 2035, equating to around 9% of the population.