A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for diabetes patients are on the decline. The authors of the study express concern regarding potential shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 drugs function by imitating a hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels and curb appetite. Initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes, these drugs gained additional recognition in 2021 when the FDA approved Wegovy for weight loss.
Since that time, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have faced challenges in producing enough GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to satisfy the rising demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, along with other institutions, examined medical records of 45 million Americans who had at least one doctor visit between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicate that the share of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Simultaneously, the percentage of new users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the advantages of these medications for treating obesity, which marks a significant public health shift,” said Yee Hui Yeo, the study’s co-first author. “However, it equally highlights concerns regarding potential medication shortages and the necessity to guarantee that diabetes patients still have access to these treatments.”
The study analyzed data from healthcare software company TriNetX, although it may not reflect the national landscape comprehensively.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reported to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these medications have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical companies globally. Nonetheless, the high demand has led to difficulties for certain patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions to enhance their production capabilities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will expand to $105 billion by 2030. Additionally, they anticipate that about 31.5 million people in the U.S., representing roughly 9% of the population, will be using these medications by 2035.