Eli Lilly is sharply increasing the list price of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Mounjaro in the UK, marking a 170% jump for the highest dose—from £122 to £330 per month starting September. This move aligns the UK price more closely with what the drug sells for in the rest of Europe.
Why Now? Trump-Driven Pricing Pressure
Amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration, which is pushing for drugmakers to raise prices overseas to afford lower U.S. prices, Eli Lilly is making this adjustment to achieve global pricing parity—rationalizing that Americans currently subsidize lower prices abroad.
NHS Patients Still Protected
Importantly, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will continue to pay the original rate, keeping Mounjaro accessible to eligible patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Lilly emphasized that this ensures continued public availability.
Fallout and Industry Ripples
- For private patients—especially those using online clinics—the hike could mean monthly costs over £300, depending on markups.
- Industry context—analysts see this as a sign of Big Pharma’s growing unease with the UK market, especially as pressure mounts to align U.S. and international pricing. Some players like AstraZeneca have even hinted at reducing UK operations.
| Audience | Impact |
|---|---|
| NHS Patients | No change—access continues |
| Private Users | Sharp cost increases expected |
| Pharma Sector | Responding to global pricing policy shifts |
Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro price hike in the UK is less about local market forces and more about global politics. Trump’s push for “most favoured nation” drug pricing is already reshaping how Big Pharma sets prices abroad—leaving private UK patients to foot the bill while NHS users remain shielded.
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