The cost of paying for Mounjaro in the UK is likely to rise significantly. Manufacturer Eli Lilly said it was raising the price by up to 170% which could hit people paying privately for the drug.
If the rise is implemented the suggested price for a month’s supply of the highest dose of Mounjaro will hike from £122 to £330, although the cost rise for lower doses will be less. The news follows warnings that Mounjaro can cause hair to shed.
Retailers selling Mounjaro might be able to negotiate discounts to the list price, so it is possible the impact on customerss will be limited, the BBC reports. ” Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.
The announced proposed price rise does not affect the price the NHS pays, as the NHS negotiated a discounted rate for people getting the drug on prescription.
The weekly Mounjaro injection makes people feel full so they eat less.
Around 1.5 million people are taking weight loss drugs in the UK. More than half of them use Mounjaro.
It is thought that around nine in 10 paying for weight loss drugs privately buy them from online services and high street pharmacies.
Read more: ‘Secret eater’ lost 11st on Mounjaro – now she feels ‘uncomfortable
Eli Lilly said Mounjaro had been sold in the UK for a price “significantly below” that charged for it in other European countries.
The proposed rise in prices here come after US President Donald Trump complained about the cost of drugs in the US.
He has threatened the pharmaceutical industry with a “most favoured nation” drug pricing proposal to pin US prices to those abroad.
Eli Lilly said it agreed with President Trump that costs should be shared more fairly./ But is said a “most favoured nation” approach was not the answer.
Research suggests prices in the US can be three times higher than in other rich nations.
Eli Lilly said In a statement: “The UK was one of the first countries where Lilly launched Mounjaro, and our priority was to bring it to patients as quickly as possible during a time of limited availability.
“At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability.
“With changes in the environment and new clinical evidence supporting the value of Mounjaro, we are now aligning the list price more consistently to ensure fair global contributions to the cost of innovation.”
Dr Leyla Hannbeck, head of the Independent Pharmacies Association, was reported to be “shocked and very disappointed” by the price rise.
“This is a real blow to patients at a time when more and more people, worried about their weight, are turning to jabs.
“It is vital that patients who are already taking Mounjaro talk to their local pharmacy before they take any action.
“Those patients considering weight-loss jabs should also not be put off as Mounjaro is not the only option. Local pharmacies are best placed to offer vital advice about the range of treatments available.”
She other weight loss drug manufacturers should hold their nerve and their prices. As well as Mourjaro, Novo Nordisk drug, Wegovy, is widely used in the UK.
“The British market for weight-loss jabs is only set to grow, but it will only achieve that growth if treatment remains affordable to the average patient,” Dr Hannbeck said.