A drug that helps lower blood sugar in adults with Type 2 diabetes is in short supply, as it has become increasingly popular among people using them to lose weight.
There is limited availability in pharmacies of Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic that is not expected to resolve until mid-March due to skyrocketing demand, prompting diabetes patients who depend on the drug to stretch out their supplies or switch to alternatives. Ozempic has only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating diabetes, but its main ingredient, semaglutide, has been shown to help with weight loss.
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"The ADA feels strongly that people who have a medical condition should have access to treatment," said Dr. Robert Gabbay, CEO and chief medical officer of the American Diabetes Association. "We're very much concerned about anything that limits access to effective treatments for diabetes and for those at risk of being diagnosed with diabetes."
Health providers handed out over 313,000 prescriptions for Ozempic in the last full week of January, up roughly 78% from the 176,000 written the year before, according to analysis from J.P. Morgan obtained by the Wall Street Journal. Doctors aren't limited to just prescribing Ozempic for its FDA-approved use, allowing them to prescribe the drug off-label to patients looking to lose weight.
Diabetes drugs have exploded in popularity for weight loss as celebrities and high-profile figures, such as Elon Musk, have publicized using the drug on social media. Meanwhile, the American Diabetes Association and some health providers have expressed concerns that shortages fueled by increased demand could prevent people with diabetes from getting the medication they need, noting that off-label use could affect the drug's safety and efficiency.
"The medication has been an important tool for people with diabetes. Not only does it lower blood glucose and weight, but it has been shown to decrease cardiovascular events (heart attacks), one of the leading causes of death for those living with diabetes," said Gabbay. "If they do not have access to the drug, their blood glucose increases, and this turns out over time to be a greater risk for complications of diabetes."
The FDA approved Ozempic for people with Type 2 diabetes in 2017, and in 2021, greenlit Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, the same drug with a higher dosage for weight loss or diabetes. Wegovy is also on the FDA's shortage list. They both work as appetite suppressants and help lower blood sugar levels, though the drugs can cost patients over $1,400 out of pocket if insurance doesn't cover them.
The agency is also reviewing an application from Eli Lilly to approve its diabetes drug Mounjaro for weight reduction. Mounjaro, like Ozempic, has been in short supply the last several months since launching last year, as doctors have prescribed the drug for weight loss following encouraging results in an obesity trial.
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In 2017, the U.S. obesity prevalence was over 41% and has been tied to other related conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.