Eli Lilly is increasing Mounjaro's UK price by 170% to match European market levels, with the highest dose now costing £330. The price hike is not directly related to the US MFN order, despite coinciding with international drug pricing discussions. Eli Lilly provides savings programs to offset costs, and the NHS confirms continued availability for obesity and diabetes treatments. The initial lower UK price aimed to ensure NHS availability, and the new price remains significantly lower than in the US. The new list price will bring the medication in line with other European markets. Starting in September of this year, the weight loss and diabetes medication will cost £330 for the highest dose (roughly $446). The medication previously cost £122 for the highest dose (about $165). For comparison, the list price for Mounjaro in the United States is $1,079.77-per-fill. These prices, however, are list prices and Eli Lilly offers a variety of savings programs, rebates, and discounts in both the UK and the United States. According to Reuters, Lilly’s reasoning for the price increase is just to bring the medication to a similar list price with other European markets. The drug maker also says that it has reached an agreement with the UK’s NHS to maintain the continued supply of the medication for the region. Reuters also reports that NHS has clarified that the price change will not change the drug’s availability to people obtaining it through state-run health services for obesity or type 2 diabetes treatments. The initial list price in the UK was reportedly set to a significantly lower price than other regions in order to assure availability through Britain’s NHS. The timing of the announcement, however, does raise some questions. Earlier this month, President Trump published letters to 17 major pharma companies demanding that they work with the government to meet the demands of his previous MFN executive order, which said that drug prices in the US must be as low as (if not lower) they are in other countries or regions. The list of pharma companies includes Eli Lilly. Rival GLP-1 maker Novo Nordisk is also on the list, along with AbbVie, Merck, Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, and other major pharma companies. The increased price of the drug in the UK is still significantly lower than it is in the United States. Also, because of potential rebates and discounts, it’s possible that patients may not feel the full brunt of the increase. Reports have surfaced, however, of pharma representatives meeting with officials at the White House to discuss increasing drug prices abroad. The wording of the President’s MFN order makes it possible to meet its demands by increasing prices abroad. Also, the main argument that the industry has made against the MFN order is that drug prices in the US create an innovation-friendly environment in the country. The report suggests that some drug makers may be looking to offset price decreases in the US by slightly raising costs in other regions. Further complicating the situation is the fact that President Trump has discussed plans to implement tariffs on pharmaceutical goods. This would make reducing costs even more difficult. Over the past several years, GLP-1s have incredibly successful at treating obesity. Studies have shown, however, that patients who stop taking the drugs are likely to experience a rebound effect and regain much of the weight that they lost. A recent report details how patients in the US are reacting to cost increases to the medications, which are becoming more expensive as insurance companies restrict access and coverage. According to the report, many patients are reducing their dosage and abstaining from making other, regular purchases to continue to be able to afford the medication.

Eli Lilly Announces 170% Price Increase for Mounjaro in UK

Eli Lilly has increased the list price of its weight loss and diabetes medication Mounjaro in the UK by 170% to £330 for the highest dose, aligning it with European market levels. The price hike is not directly tied to the US MFN order, though it coincides with international drug pricing discussions. The company maintains that the change ensures consistency with other European markets and offers savings programs to offset costs. The UK's NHS confirms continued availability of the drug for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments. The previous UK list price was £122, and the new price remains significantly lower than the US list price of $1,079.77. The move comes amid broader debates over drug pricing, with President Trump's MFN executive order calling for lower drug prices in the US by matching international levels. Reports suggest some pharmaceutical companies may be adjusting prices abroad to offset potential reductions in the US, while also facing potential US tariffs on pharmaceutical goods. Patient reactions in the US include reduced dosages and financial strain due to rising costs and insurance restrictions.