Mounjaro Price Rise in the UK: What Patients Need to Know

The cost of treatment has risen for people paying privately in the UK to take the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. This follows an announcement by the drug’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, that it is raising the list price of the drug by up to 170%.

Price Increase Details

The recommended price of one month’s supply of the highest dose of Mounjaro has increased to £330. The lower doses will also see price rises, but to a lesser extent.

Retailers selling the drug may still negotiate discounts to the list price, meaning the consumer effect could be less severe in practice.

Impact on NHS vs Private Patients

The announcement does not affect the price paid by the NHS, which has already agreed on a highly discounted rate for patients receiving the drug on prescription.

Privately, the weekly injection works by suppressing appetite and helping individuals reduce their food intake. Many users report losing up to 20% of their body weight while on treatment.

How Many People Use Mounjaro?

Currently, it is estimated that there are around 1.5 million people in the UK on weight-loss medication. Over half of these are taking Mounjaro. Reports suggest that 9 out of 10 people pay privately for these injections through online services or high street pharmacies.

Global Pricing and Trump’s Pressure

Eli Lilly acknowledged that Mounjaro was originally retailed in the UK at a price substantially lower than in other European countries. The move to increase UK prices follows pressure from former US President Donald Trump, who criticised the high cost of drugs in the US compared to abroad.

Trump threatened the pharmaceutical industry with a “most favoured nation” drug pricing proposal, pegging US drug costs to foreign market prices. Eli Lilly agreed with the principle of fairer global contributions but stated that this particular strategy was not the correct solution.

In many cases, US drug prices are three times higher than in other wealthy nations.

Eli Lilly’s Justification

Eli Lilly stated: “The UK was one of the first locations where we introduced Mounjaro. Our main goal was to make it available to patients as quickly as possible during a time of scarcity. At launch, we set a UK list price below the European average to avoid delays in NHS supply. As the environment evolves and new clinical evidence emerges to support the value of Mounjaro, we are now aligning the list price to provide fair global contributions to the cost of innovation.”

Reactions to the Price Hike

Dr. Leyla Hannbeck, head of the Independent Pharmacies Association, said she was “shocked and very disappointed” at the increase. She described it as a major setback for patients, especially at a time when more people are turning to weight-loss jabs.

She advised patients already on Mounjaro to speak with their local pharmacy before making any decisions. She also emphasised that patients considering weight-loss injections should not be deterred, as Mounjaro is not the only treatment available.

Warnings About Black Market Alternatives

Dr. Sophie Dix, head of medical affairs at online pharmacy Medexpress and a former Eli Lilly employee, told the BBC’s Radio One Today Programme that her company was still considering how much of the price rise to pass on to customers.

She warned that the worst possible outcome would be patients turning to the black market for weight-loss drugs, which could be dangerous. “So many things may go wrong with that,” she explained. “We always ask patients to communicate with their provider about their options and not seek out unsafe sources.”