Mounjaro manufacturer Eli Lilly has come to an agreement with UK pharmacies weeks after it was announced the weight loss drug would be going up in price by more than 170 percent.
The pharmaceutical company said it would be hiking up the cost of Mounjaro jabs in the UK after President Donald Trump put pressure on US drug companies to increase prices outside of America in order to reduce prices within the US.
The original price increase would've meant the highest dose of Mounjaro would go up to £330 from its current price of £122, pricing out thousands of users who are already reliant on the medication.
Unsurprisingly, the announcement led to many users panic stockpiling the GLP-1 medication, causing shortages at several leading pharmacies, such as Boots and Superdrug. Thousands of Brits also opted to change over to Mounjaro's competitor Wegovy, another GLP-1 medication manufactured by the company behind Ozempic, Novo Nordisk.
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However, in a bid to stay in control of the UK market, Eli Lilly has now offered a discount of £83 for the highest dose of Mounjaro, according to a confidential document seen by Sky News. Meanwhile, lower doses of the jab will have slightly smaller discounts.
An Eli Lilly spokesperson said: "We are working with private providers on commercial arrangements to maintain affordability and expect these to be passed onto patients when the change is effective on 1st September.
"We are already seeing providers respond in different ways to the list price change, with a range of options available for eligible patients.
"We also want to work in partnership with the government to expand NHS access for eligible patients, building on the commitments in the government’s 10-year plan."
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Meanwhile, concerned doctors and pharmacists have issued warnings to Mounjaro users, urging them not to try and purchase medication from any unlicensed sources as they will likely be fraudulent products and could be incredibly dangerous.
“In line with the UK price hike of Mounjaro, there is a huge risk that those that may not be able to afford the new costs will seek out alternative solutions, which could include sourcing the jabs at a cheaper cost from unregulated sites," warned Dr Crystal Wyllie from Asda Online Doctor.
“Whilst we understand the frustration patients are feeling regarding costs, we recommend that people exercise caution when it comes to purchasing lower-cost Mounjaro from unregulated sites, as it is more than likely counterfeit.
"This poses a huge risk, particularly to those with pre-existing conditions, as you can’t be 100 percent clear on what the pens contain, and whether the contents are in fact the same as Mounjaro, or a concoction of other, potentially harmful substances."
Emma Rosemurgey