A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a rising trend in the number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for diabetic patients are declining. The authors of the study express concerns that this could lead to potential shortages of these therapies.
GLP-1 drugs, designed to mimic a hormone that controls blood sugar and decreases appetite, were initially approved for treating type 2 diabetes. However, in 2021, the FDA greenlighted Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment specifically for weight loss.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing challenges in meeting the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions investigated the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider between 2011 and 2023. Their findings indicate that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023, while the percentage of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, noted that this trend suggests a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, it also raises alarms about the risk of medication shortages and the importance of ensuring continued access for diabetic patients.
The researchers utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, though they caution that it may not be fully representative of the national population.
In recent years, GLP-1 medications have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing properties, helping users to achieve weight loss of up to 26% of their body weight.
The increased sales of these drugs have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the most valuable pharmaceutical firms globally. Despite their success, the soaring demand has made it difficult for certain patients to obtain their prescriptions. Both companies are investing billions to enhance their production capabilities.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could hit $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.