A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that the percentage of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications is increasing, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are declining. This trend raises alarms about potential shortages of these important treatments.
GLP-1 drugs function by imitating a hormone that helps manage blood sugar levels and curbs appetite. Initially approved for type 2 diabetes treatment, the FDA authorized Wegovy, a GLP-1 medication, for weight loss in 2021.
Following this approval, both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have encountered challenges in producing a sufficient supply of GLP-1 medications, which include Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic, to meet the surging demand.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions examined medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a healthcare provider from 2011 to 2023. Their findings indicated that the proportion of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes decreased from nearly 90% to over 70% between 2019 and 2023. Conversely, the percentage of new GLP-1 users without type 2 diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
Yee Hui Yeo, a co-first author of the study, commented, “This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the benefits of these medications for treating obesity, indicating a significant shift in public health. However, it raises concerns about potential medication shortages and the need to ensure that diabetes patients still have access to these treatments.”
The study utilized data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, although this data may not be nationally representative.
Recently, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite-suppressing effects, with users reportedly losing up to 26% of their body weight. The soaring sales of these drugs have elevated Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to the status of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical companies. However, the high demand has led to difficulties for some patients in obtaining their prescriptions. Both companies have committed billions to boost production.
Analysts from Morgan Stanley predict that the global market for GLP-1 drugs will reach $105 billion by 2030, with an estimated adoption among approximately 31.5 million people in the U.S. by 2035, accounting for about 9% of the population.