The proportion of individuals without diabetes receiving prescriptions for GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are on the decline, according to a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers have expressed concerns that this trend could lead to shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 drugs, which include medications such as Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, function by imitating a hormone that controls blood sugar and suppresses appetite. Originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Wegovy was sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for weight loss.
In response to rising demand, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are encountering challenges in producing sufficient quantities of GLP-1 drugs.
Medical records from 45 million Americans who visited healthcare providers between 2011 and 2023 were analyzed by researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions. Their findings indicated that the percentage of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023, while the share of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which represents a significant public health shift. However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the necessity to ensure patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not accurately represent the national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, enabling users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become the most valued pharmaceutical companies globally. However, the high demand has resulted in difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested significant funds to increase the production of these medications.
Morgan Stanley analysts predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030. They also anticipate that by 2035, approximately 31.5 million individuals in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, will adopt these treatments.