Pharmaceutical company to increase UK price of Mounjaro weight loss medication by as much as 170%
In a move that will significantly impact patients in the UK, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly has announced that it will increase the cost of its diabetes and weight loss medication Mounjaro by up to 170% starting September 2025. This price hike will see the cost of the highest dose rise from around £122 to £330.
The reason for this increase is that Eli Lilly aims to align UK prices with those in other developed European countries. The company explains that the original UK price was set significantly below the European average to avoid delays in NHS availability. However, recent clinical evidence and changes in the market environment have justified adjusting prices to ensure "fair global contributions to the cost of innovation."
This price increase contrasts with the recent efforts by the White House to lower domestic drug prices in the US, particularly under the Biden administration's push for drug affordability. The US has sought to negotiate or mandate lower prices domestically, including discussions about pharmaceutical companies raising prices abroad to offset domestic price controls.
Eli Lilly's decision reflects a global pricing strategy to match developed market levels, indirectly supporting efforts to keep US prices lower through balancing global revenues. This strategy partially aligns with the White House's domestic push for lower drug prices but results in higher prices abroad.
The increase in the price of Mounjaro has led to increased interest in alternative GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Wegovy in the UK, causing a surge in Wegovy sales as patients seek more affordable options.
Eli Lilly's decision is supported by the objective of more fairly sharing the costs of breakthrough medical research across developed countries. The company also supports the administration's goal of keeping the United States the world's leading destination for biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing.
It is important to note that the US pays more for prescription drugs than any other country, often nearly three times as much as other developed nations. This decision by Eli Lilly aims to increase prices in other developed markets like Europe to make them lower in the US.
The UK government has not yet announced any specific actions in response to this price increase, but it is expected that discussions will take place to ensure that patients continue to have access to essential medications at affordable prices.
References:
- BBC News
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- The Guardian
- The Telegraph
- The rising cost of Mounjaro, a diabetes and weight loss medication, has sparked a surge in interest in alternatives like Wegovy, signifying a shift towards science-backed weight-management solutions in the health-and-wellness sector, even amidst escalating costs.
- The global pricing strategy adopted by Eli Lilly, apparent in its decision to escalate Mounjaro's price, aims to rebalance costs of breakthrough medical research, with the longer-term goal of maintaining the United States as a leader in biopharmaceutical research and manufacturing, while aligning with domestic efforts for lower drug prices in a war of affordable healthcare access.
