Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly will increase the UK price of its weight-loss drug Mounjaro by as much as 170% from September, following pressure from US President Donald Trump on drugmakers to raise overseas prices to ease costs for American patients.
The Indiana-based company said the hike was intended to address “pricing inconsistencies compared to other developed countries” and to bring the UK list price closer to the European average.
From 1 September, the price of a Mounjaro injection pen — which contains four doses — will rise sharply, from between £92 and £122 to between £133 and £330, depending on the dosage. The change applies to private providers, who are expected to pass the increases on to patients.
The move comes just days after President Trump wrote to major pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca and GSK, urging them to “negotiate harder with foreign freeloading nations” and ensure that “increased revenues abroad are repatriated” to help American consumers.
Eli Lilly defended its decision, noting that the UK had previously enjoyed prices “significantly below the European average.” The company also cited new clinical evidence highlighting the drug’s benefits. However, it confirmed it had reached an agreement with the NHS to maintain supply and access for eligible patients. NHS pricing arrangements remain confidential, but are typically set below private market rates.
Mounjaro, also known by its generic name tirzepatide, is prescribed on the NHS to patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 40 and at least four health conditions, including type 2 diabetes. Privately, patients can access the drug with a BMI of 30 or higher.
The sharp increase in costs is likely to intensify debate over the future of drug pricing in the UK. Analysts have warned of a broader trend towards higher medicine prices after a recent UK-US trade agreement, in which British ministers agreed the NHS would review pricing practices in response to American concerns.
Some in the industry have expressed support for such alignment. Sir Pascal Soriot, chief executive of AstraZeneca, has previously endorsed “price equalisation” across countries, arguing that US patients shoulder a disproportionate burden for global drug development.
NHS England moved quickly to reassure patients that the change would not impact access to Mounjaro for those eligible under national guidance. “The approved list price increase will not affect NHS commissioning of Mounjaro,” a spokesperson said. However, they advised patients receiving treatment privately to confirm new costs with their providers.
With obesity rates rising across the UK and weight-loss drugs in high demand, Eli Lilly’s decision will be closely watched by both patients and policymakers. The increase marks one of the most significant adjustments to the UK’s pharmaceutical pricing landscape in recent years — and raises questions about whether similar hikes could follow for other medications.
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