A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals a significant increase in the number of individuals without diabetes being prescribed GLP-1 medications, while new prescriptions for those with diabetes are decreasing. This trend raises concerns about potential shortages of these treatments.
GLP-1 drugs are designed to mimic a hormone that regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite. Initially approved for type 2 diabetes management, they gained additional approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for weight loss through the drug Wegovy.
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the primary manufacturers, are struggling to keep up with the surging demand for GLP-1 medications, including Zepbound, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and other institutions evaluated the medical records of 45 million Americans who visited a doctor between 2011 and 2023. They found that the percentage of new GLP-1 users with type 2 diabetes dropped from nearly 90% in 2019 to over 70% by 2023. Concurrently, the proportion of new users without diabetes rose from 10% to 25%.
“This data suggests that more healthcare providers are recognizing the advantages of these medications for obesity treatment, marking a notable public health shift,” stated Yee Hui Yeo, co-first author of the study. She also cautioned about the implications for potential medication shortages and the necessity to ensure ongoing access for diabetes patients.
The study relied on data from TriNetX, a healthcare software company, which may not represent the national population accurately.
In recent years, GLP-1 drugs have gained popularity for their appetite suppression abilities, enabling users to lose up to 26% of their body weight.
The soaring sales of these drugs have propelled Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to become among 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 invested heavily to enhance their production capacities.
Morgan Stanley analysts project that the global market for GLP-1 medications could reach $105 billion by 2030, with an expected adoption of approximately 31.5 million users in the U.S. by 2035, representing about 9% of the population.