A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a rising trend in the prescription of GLP-1 medications among individuals without diabetes, coinciding with a decline in new prescriptions for those with diabetes. Researchers express concern that this shift may lead to shortages of these vital drugs.
GLP-1 medications are designed to imitate a hormone that controls blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. Initially approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, the FDA authorized the use of Wegovy for weight loss in 2021. Since then, companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have struggled to satisfy the increasing demand for these medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicate that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% in 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes surged from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, remarked, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are seeing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, which is a significant public health shift. However, it also raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that patients with diabetes still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not reflect national trends accurately.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with studies indicating that users can lose up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these medications have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the ranks of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has posed challenges for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have invested significantly to increase their production capacity.
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., or about 9% of the population, expected to adopt these medications by 2035.