Skyrocketing Prices of UK Mounjaro Weight-Loss Injection Due to Trump's Drug Policy, Yet NHS Patients Exempted
In a move that has raised concerns among private patients, the price of Mounjaro, a medication used for weight loss and diabetes treatment, is set to increase by up to 170% for private patients in the UK starting from September 1, 2025.
This significant price surge is due to Eli Lilly, the manufacturer, aligning UK prices with those of other developed European countries and markets. Initially, the UK launch price was set below the European average to avoid delaying the NHS rollout of the medication. However, new clinical evidence and changing market conditions have led Eli Lilly to adjust prices upward to address pricing inconsistencies and ensure a fair global contribution to the cost of innovation.
For NHS patients, the price will remain unchanged due to a separate agreement between Eli Lilly and the NHS, so the increase primarily affects private patients. In comparison to other European countries, the UK had previously paid less for Mounjaro. The price increase brings the UK more in line with European pricing levels, where Mounjaro typically costs significantly more than it did in the UK before this adjustment.
The phased rollout of Mounjaro across Integrated Care Boards in the UK began in March 2025. The medication is being rolled out in both GP surgeries and specialist weight-management clinics, but the rollout is phased and varies by location.
Private providers such as Boots, Superdrug, and online pharmacies can set their own charges for Mounjaro, and the costs can easily reach £50 to over £200 depending on the provider. On a private prescription, patients pay the full cost of the medicine plus a dispensing fee, which varies by pharmacy.
Critics warn that the price increase could price many UK patients out of treatment. For those who need regular medication, a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) can help cut costs, costing £32.05 for 3 months or £114.50 for 12 months.
The price surge affects private patients who purchase Mounjaro through online clinics, high street pharmacies, or other private providers. Many patients seeking weight-loss treatment with Mounjaro fund it themselves due to the restrictions on the National Health Service.
This price hike reflects a global pricing strategy rather than a sudden change unique to the UK. The move comes as US President Donald Trump pushes drugmakers to hike prices overseas to help reduce costs in the US. In 2017-18, shortages sent the price of some everyday generic medicines through the roof, costing the NHS an extra £315 million.
In the past, Advanz Pharma, the maker of liothyronine, was fined £99 million for price hikes. The price of liothyronine, a thyroid drug, rocketed from about £20 in 2009 to nearly £250 a pack by 2017, which was deemed excessive and unfair.
For South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African, or African-Caribbean individuals, the BMI cut-off for qualifying for Mounjaro is lower by 2.5 points.
In summary, the price increase of Mounjaro in the UK brings the country more in line with European pricing levels, primarily affecting private patients. NHS patients will not see a change in price. Alternatives like Wegovy, another GLP-1 drug, may have more stable pricing for private patients. Critics warn that the price increase could price many UK patients out of treatment.
- Despite the initial low prices to avoid delaying the NHS rollout, the cost of Mounjaro for weight-loss and diabetes treatment is increasing by up to 170%, impacting private patients from September 1, 2025, due to global pricing strategies and exchange with European markets.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and weight-management, the price hike of Mounjaro places significant financial burden on private patients in the UK, as costs can easily exceed £50 and reach over £200 depending on the provider.
- The rising cost of medications, such as Mounjaro, poses challenges for individuals seeking self-funded weight-loss treatments due to NHS restrictions, demonstrating the need for affordable and accessible options like Wegovy in the general-news and finance sectors.
