Eli Lilly will raise the UK price of its Mounjaro weight-loss drug by up to 170% from September, after pressure from US President Donald Trump for pharmaceutical companies to increase overseas prices to help lower costs for American patients.
The US drugmaker said it was acting to address “pricing inconsistencies compared to other developed countries” and would align the UK list price more closely with the European average.
From 1 September, the price of a Mounjaro injection pen – containing four doses – will rise from between £92 and £122 to between £133 and £330, depending on dosage. The increase applies to private providers, which are likely to pass on higher costs to patients.
The move comes days after Mr Trump wrote to pharmaceutical companies including AstraZeneca and GSK, demanding they “negotiate harder with foreign freeloading nations” and ensure “increased revenues abroad are repatriated” to benefit US patients.
Eli Lilly said the UK had previously enjoyed prices “significantly below the European average” and that new clinical evidence supported the value of Mounjaro. The company added it had reached an agreement with the NHS “to ensure continued supply and patient access”, though NHS pricing remains confidential and is typically lower than private rates.
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