Lilly raises UK Mounjaro price amid US pressure

Eli Lilly raises the UK price of Mounjaro to align with European pricing as US pressure mounts for lower domestic costs.

Lilly hikes UK price on Mounjaro to push US affordability gains

Lilly said in London that the price for the highest UK dose of Mounjaro will rise from £122 to £330 per month, a 170% increase that takes effect in September. The price for Mounjaro accessed through the NHS will remain unchanged, with about 220,000 Britons expected to use the drug via the public system in the first three years. Private suppliers will be able to negotiate discounts. The company added that the change aims to align prices across developed markets to reflect new clinical evidence of value and to support ongoing innovation.

Lilly also noted that it had initially set a UK price below the European average to avoid delaying NHS access when Mounjaro was first launched. The move comes amid ongoing political pressure from the United States, including President Trump’s push to lower domestic drug costs. Lilly said it is focused on aligning prices across developed markets, a strategy it says helps sustain drug research and manufacturing while keeping patient access possible through different channels.

The price shift in the UK highlights how global drug pricing can be used as a strategic lever. When a company adjusts prices in one country, the ripple effects touch NHS budgets, private clinics, and patient choices, potentially widening or narrowing access depending on who pays. The move also underscores the broader debate over value-based pricing, where what a medicine costs is tied to its perceived benefits and the funds available to cover them. Critics worry that shifting costs to other markets may strain public systems and deepen disparities in access. Yet supporters argue that price harmonization can fund continued innovation and ensure more predictable returns for industry investors.

Politically, the episode shows how domestic pressure in the United States can push firms to rethink cross-border pricing. The Wegovy option mentioned by private clinics signals another angle: patients may protest price gaps by seeking alternatives. In the longer run, the question is whether price alignment will actually decrease U.S. costs or simply redraw the map of who pays what in a global market for weight loss therapies.

Highlights

Pricing decisions will continue to shape access and trust in medicines across markets.