A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates an increasing number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for diabetes patients are on the decline. The authors of the study express concerns about potential shortages of these treatments due to this shift.
GLP-1 drugs, which mimic a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and curb appetite, were originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA also approved Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment specifically for weight loss.
Currently, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are facing challenges in meeting the rising demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include popular medications like Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers analyzed the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. Their findings revealed that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this trend indicates that healthcare providers are increasingly recognizing the benefits of GLP-1 medications for treating obesity. However, this shift raises concerns about ensuring continued access for diabetes patients.
The research utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not represent the national landscape fully.
Over recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects and have demonstrated the ability to aid users in losing up to 26% of their body weight.
The surging sales of these medications have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the status of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. Nevertheless, high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies are investing heavily to increase production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with approximately 31.5 million individuals in the U.S., or about 9% of the population, expected to adopt these medications by 2035.