Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, has announced that UK prices for this popular weight-loss injection will be going up. This change is driven by new international pricing rules in the United States, which are having a ripple effect on medicine costs worldwide – impacting all suppliers of Mounjaro.
A recently introduced “Most-Favoured Nation” rule means US government health programmes cannot pay more for a medicine than the lowest price charged in other developed countries.
Currently, the UK offers some of the lowest Mounjaro prices worldwide, starting at £119/month compared to around £1,000/month in the US. This huge gap risks making the UK price the benchmark for the US, which could cost manufacturers billions. To avoid this, Eli Lilly is raising prices here and in other low-cost markets.
Why have UK Mounjaro prices been so low until now?
For years, UK prices have been significantly lower thanks to:
NHS negotiating power – The NHS can secure favourable prices through centralised negotiation.
Early launch pricing – Mounjaro’s initial UK launch came with a lower introductory cost to encourage uptake.
These factors have kept UK prices well below those in the US and EU. But the new US rule is reshaping the global pricing landscape for weight-loss medications.
Why are weight loss injections more expensive now?
Pricing changes for weight-loss injections happen when global regulations shift, especially when the US, the world’s largest pharmaceutical market, changes its rules.
In this case, the “Most-Favoured Nation” rule means manufacturers have a financial incentive to increase prices in countries where medicines are cheapest, to prevent those prices from being used as a benchmark in the US.
What about Wegovy?
If you’re wondering whether the same applies to Wegovy, the answer is slightly different. Novo Nordisk, the Danish company behind these treatments, is not under the same immediate pressure as Eli Lilly. As such, prices for Wegovy in the UK will remain the same.
For people concerned about rising costs, Wegovy remains a cost-effective alternative for weight-loss injections.
Switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy
If you are currently using Mounjaro and want to manage your costs, switching to Wegovy is simple. We’ll make sure you’re on the correct dose from day one, and our team will guide you through every step.
You can find everything you need to know about making the switch, including dosage, timing and medical guidance, on our switching page.
