A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a growing trend in the prescription of GLP-1 drugs to individuals without diabetes, even as new prescriptions for those with diabetes decline. This shift raises concerns about potential shortages of these crucial treatments.
GLP-1 medications, which were initially approved for managing type 2 diabetes, work by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. The approval of Wegovy for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 spurred increased interest in these drugs.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are currently facing difficulties in meeting the rising demand for GLP-1 drugs, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center analyzed medical records from 45 million Americans who visited doctors between 2011 and 2023. Their analysis showed the percentage of new GLP-1 users diagnosed with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the proportion of new users without diabetes increased from 10% to 25%.
Co-first author of the study, Yee Hui Yeo, noted that the data indicates growing recognition among healthcare providers of the benefits of these medications for obesity treatment. However, this trend raises alarms about ensuring that diabetes patients continue to have access to these essential drugs.
The study utilized data from the healthcare software company TriNetX, which may not reflect the national demographic accurately.
The popularity of GLP-1 medications has surged due to their effectiveness in suppressing appetite, enabling users to lose as much as 26% of their body weight. This increasing demand has transformed Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk into the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies, but it has also made it challenging for some patients to fill their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions of dollars to enhance their production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for these drugs could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated 31.5 million people in the U.S., approximately 9% of the population, adopting these treatments by 2035.