Mounjaro Price Set to Surge in UK as Patients Warned Against Bulk Buying and Switching Medications

Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant behind the popular weight loss injection Mounjaro, has announced a substantial price hike for the medication due to take effect in the UK from September. With indications that costs could soar by as much as 170% next month, users who currently rely on private prescriptions are expressing concern over access and affordability.

A month’s supply of the highest dose of Mounjaro currently retails for around £200 at many online pharmacies. After the price increase, patients face a bill almost triple that amount. Although the NHS will reportedly be insulated from these rising costs, the majority of people prescribed Mounjaro have access only through private channels, and as a result, anxiety is spreading among clinics and patients alike.

Industry figures such as Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, have cautioned against the temptation to stockpile Mounjaro or resort to unregulated sellers advertising heavily discounted products. There are fears that such practices could jeopardise both the supply chain and patient safety. Instead, healthcare professionals are advising patients to consult directly with their prescribers in order to ensure continued access to safe and effective treatment.

The anticipated price hike has prompted some patients to switch to Wegovy, another weight loss jab often regarded as less effective but currently more affordable. Demand for both Mounjaro and alternative treatments spiked dramatically in the aftermath of Eli Lilly’s announcement, with some online pharmacies reporting up to a 5,000% increase in Mounjaro prescription requests and a notable surge in patients seeking Wegovy instead.

Clinicians warn that a quick switch between medications is not always appropriate, especially for patients who are mid-way through their weight loss journeys and have responded well to their current treatment. Industry insiders have also revealed that while pharmacies will be expected to purchase Mounjaro at higher prices from September, a potential rebate scheme may be in play requiring pharmacies to pass savings on to patients at the point of sale.

The prospect of budgeting for much higher costs in such a short timeframe is causing distress among long-term users, many of whom do not qualify for NHS-funded treatment. While the NHS will not be immediately impacted, those reliant on the private market face challenging choices amid an increasingly uncertain future for obesity and weight loss care in the UK.