The manufacturer of weight loss drug Mounjaro has apologised to UK patients for the jab’s sharp price increase, as ITV News’ Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry reports
Words by Senior Producer Liz Little
The manufacturer of Mounjaro has apologised to UK patients who are “experiencing interruption” due to their sharp price increase and admitted that political pressure from Donald Trump influenced its decision.
In its first interview since announcing the price hike, Eli Lilly’s Medical Associate Vice President, Emily Pegg, told ITV News Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry the drug’s slow NHS rollout increases the risk of people turning to the black market.
Ms Pegg said they are “sorry for patients who feel that they need to make decisions based on price”, but added they are working with the NHS and private providers to maintain patient access.
She also apologised to patients who are experiencing an interruption in their supply and encouraged patients to speak to healthcare professionals.
Eli Lilly – one of the world’s biggest drug makers – announced that from September 1, the price of their weight loss drug Mounjaro is set to increase by 170%.
This means the wholesale price of a month’s supply of the highest dose will rise from £122 to £330.
The pharmaceutical company said NHS patients won’t be affected – though it’s believed 90% of those taking Mounjaro in the UK access the medication privately.
Ms Pegg confirmed to ITV News that it has proposed a deal to UK pharmacies to cut £80 off the maximum price hike, but says Eli Lilly can’t control what they then choose to charge their patients.
She also confirmed the company has temporarily stopped sales to the UK.
The decision follows reports of patients panic-buying the medication, with social media videos showing many stockpiling their fridges.
“We are doing all we can to maintain patient access,” Ms Pegg said.
“We are concerned that patients may try to pursue alternative routes for this medicine – and one of our concerns is that we have this medicine reimbursed by NICE…. but roll out of that medicine is going to take over a decade.”
When asked if she thought NHS delays were leading people to look to the black market, Ms Pegg said Eli Lilly was “concerned that if patients can’t access through the NHS, they might look to the black market because that’s where they can go to find a cheaper version.”
Chloe Long, 34, began taking Mounjaro in April last year.
The mum-of-three weighed 29 stone, and with a diagnosis of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), she found weight loss nearly impossible.
She told ITV News her weight was having detrimental effects on her physical and mental health.
In just over a year on the weight loss drug, Ms Long lost ten stone.
“It’s been a whirlwind but life-changing – it’s like I started my life a year ago,” she said.
“It’s very difficult to think of life without Mounjaro.”
Chloe is now facing the difficult decision of whether to take a huge financial hit to remain on the “life-changing” drugs.
“My worst fear is that I’ve got my last jab in my fridge. And once that’s gone, I don’t know if I can order another one. I can’t get that money from thin air – it’s a scary thought.”
The price hike of Mounjaro comes after US President Donald Trump complained about the high cost of drugs in the US.
In July, Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies – including Eli Lilly – demanding they bring their US prices in line with the lower costs to patients abroad.
Speaking to reporters in May, Trump said the US had been “subsidising other countries”.
He said a friend told him he paid $88 for the “fat shot drug” in London, compared to $1,300 in New York.
On Thursday, Ms Pegg said that political pressure from Trump was “one factor that we take into account, but we do also want to achieve a price that is more on a par and equal to what we see across Europe.”
“We operate as a multi-geographical organisation and there are a number of factors within the wider political environment that have influenced us – not just the US,” she said.
Eli Lilly said when it first launched Mounjaro in the UK, the company “agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability.”
It now says that price changes are to address “inconsistencies” compared with other countries.
Weight loss injections are used by around 1.5 million people in the UK. It’s feared some will now turn to the black market in search of cheaper drugs.
Olivier Picard, Vice Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said the majority of patients are “really struggling with the idea of the increased cost” and advised people against turning to unregulated sellers.
“Going to unregulated sellers is unsafe, you don’t know what you’re getting, you don’t know what’s in the product,” he told ITV News.
“The danger is that the price hike will mean that many more patients will try and source the medication cheaper than perhaps they would otherwise, and unfortunately, the impact that it will have on people’s lives can be significant.”
Since the announcement of the price increase, Mr Picard said many patients have been trying to order early, stock up and bring their appointment forward.
As a result, he said they’ve had to be “sensible” in managing the supply, including by only providing people with one month’s worth of medication at a time.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This government is committed to ensuring that more people have access to these revolutionary drugs when needed, and crucially that they are able to so do in a safe and controlled way.
“NHS commissioning of tirzepatide, based on clinical priority, is unaffected by the change in list price – pricing in the private market is a matter for Eli Lilly and for private providers of weight loss and diabetes services.”
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