The cost of the weight loss drug Mounjaro will rise less steeply than expected in the UK after its manufacturer Eli Lilly agreed a rebate deal with suppliers.
Earlier this month, the company announced that the list price of the drug would increase by up to 170%, raising fears that the highest monthly dose could rise from £122 to £330. The new arrangement means suppliers will now pay £247.50 for the highest dose, significantly reducing the expected increase for patients.
Pharmacies and private weight-loss services typically add their own mark-ups, so final prices for patients will vary. However, the discount should prevent the sharpest rises initially forecast.
The deal will not affect the price the NHS pays. The health service has already negotiated its own lower rate for patients who receive Mounjaro on prescription.
Mounjaro, a weekly injection, works by increasing feelings of fullness and has been shown to help people lose up to 20% of their body weight. Around 1.5 million people in the UK are thought to be taking weight loss drugs, with more than half using Mounjaro. The majority of patients purchase it privately through pharmacies or online providers.
Eli Lilly 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 1 September. We are already seeing providers respond in different ways to the list price change, with a range of options available for eligible patients.”