A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a concerning trend in the prescription of GLP-1 medications. The research indicates that the number of individuals without diabetes receiving these medications is on the rise, while new prescriptions for patients with diabetes are declining.
GLP-1 drugs, which imitate a hormone that helps control blood sugar and curbs appetite, were originally approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, their use has expanded since the FDA authorized the weight-loss drug Wegovy in 2021. As a result, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are experiencing challenges in meeting the manufacturing demands for this class of medications, which includes Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
The analysis, conducted by researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center along with other institutions, evaluated medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. Findings revealed a decline in the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes, dropping from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25% during the same period.
Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study, stated, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing 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 research utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, though its findings may not fully represent the national landscape.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have surged in popularity due to their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight. This has contributed to a dramatic increase in sales, establishing Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as two of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical firms. Nonetheless, the heightened demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions, prompting both companies to invest billions to enhance production.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley project that the global market for GLP-1 drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030. The investment bank also forecasts that approximately 31.5 million Americans, equating to about 9% of the U.S. population, will adopt these medications by 2035.