UK Patients Face Steep Price Rise for Weight-Loss Drug Mounjaro

Published: 15 August 2025 — The English Chronicle Desk

People in the UK paying privately for the weight-loss drug Mounjaro are set to face a substantial increase in cost, after its manufacturer Eli Lilly announced plans to raise the list price of the treatment by up to 170 percent. Under the new pricing, a month’s supply of the highest-dose formulation would increase from £122 to £330, while lower doses will see comparatively smaller hikes.

The price change applies primarily to private consumers, as the National Health Service (NHS) purchases the drug at a heavily discounted rate, meaning publicly funded prescriptions remain unaffected. Nevertheless, the announcement is expected to impact tens of thousands of private patients, many of whom source Mounjaro through online services and high street pharmacies. Current estimates suggest there are approximately 1.5 million people in the UK taking weight-loss medications, with over half on Mounjaro, and nine in ten paying privately for their treatment.

Mounjaro, administered as a weekly injection, works by suppressing appetite and can help patients lose up to 20 percent of their body weight. The drug has been sold in the UK at a price that Eli Lilly acknowledges was “significantly below” that charged in other European countries. In a statement, the company said the initial pricing strategy prioritised rapid access for UK patients amid limited availability and aimed to support NHS distribution.

Eli Lilly added that evolving clinical evidence demonstrating the drug’s efficacy, coupled with changes in the global pharmaceutical landscape, justified aligning the UK list price more closely with international rates. The company emphasised that this adjustment reflects a broader aim to ensure equitable contributions to the cost of innovation worldwide.

The announcement follows ongoing scrutiny of drug pricing in other markets, particularly the United States, where President Donald Trump has criticized high medication costs and proposed a “most favoured nation” pricing model to align US drug prices with those abroad. Eli Lilly responded, noting that while it supports the principle of fair cost-sharing, the proposed US approach would not be suitable. Research indicates that US prices for comparable medications can be up to three times higher than in other wealthy nations.

Industry representatives in the UK have expressed concern about the impact of the price increase. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, head of the Independent Pharmacies Association, described the hike as “shocking and very disappointing,” warning that it could place a significant burden on patients already seeking weight-loss treatment. She urged existing Mounjaro users to consult their local pharmacies before making any changes to their regimen and advised potential new patients not to be deterred, highlighting that alternative options, such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, remain widely available.

Dr Hannbeck further stressed the importance of maintaining affordability across the expanding market for weight-loss medications, arguing that sustainable growth depends on treatments being accessible to the average patient.

As Mounjaro’s new pricing takes effect, healthcare providers, patients, and policymakers will be closely watching the broader implications for private healthcare costs, patient adherence, and the availability of alternative weight-loss treatments across the UK.