A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a concerning trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs. While the number of prescriptions for these medications among individuals with diabetes is decreasing, the share of prescriptions for those without diabetes is increasing.
GLP-1 drugs, initially approved for managing type 2 diabetes, work by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and reduces appetite. In 2021, the FDA authorized Wegovy, a GLP-1 treatment, specifically for weight loss purposes. Following this approval, demand has surged, leading pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to struggle with production to meet the rising needs.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined the medical records of 45 million Americans from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated a drop in the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, falling from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without type 2 diabetes soared from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author of the study, Yee Hui Yeo, noted that this shift in prescription practices suggests a growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for treating obesity. However, Yeo emphasized the potential for medication shortages, highlighting the need for continued access for patients with diabetes.
The research utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, although it may not fully represent national trends. The popularity of GLP-1 drugs has surged due to their effectiveness in promoting weight loss, with users reportedly shedding up to 26% of their body weight.
The skyrocketing sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become some of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest heavily in expanding production.
Analysts from Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with expectations that around 31.5 million people in the U.S. will use these drugs by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.