Trump Prompts a Huge Mounjaro Price Hike in the UK

It should have been easy to see this coming. U.S. President Donald Trump complained about Americans being “ripped off” by drug prices that are much higher in the U.S. than other countries. He specifically called out the low price of obesity drugs in the UK. So Eli Lilly and Company knew just what to do. Yesterday the company announced a huge price hike for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) in the UK.

The price of a full 15 mg dose will nearly triple, going from £122 to £330 for a month’s supply. The price hike for a lower dose will be less – 45%. But that’s still an eye-popping price hike.

Lower prices for Americans?

We will not be holding our breath for a quick price cut in the U.S. In letters to pharmaceutical executives, Trump demanded they raise their drug prices in other wealthy countries and then drop prices in the U.S.

Lilly was quick to take him up on the call for a price hike. Price cuts in the U.S. are not coming as quickly. “We must also address the underlying structural issues in the U.S. that have contributed to high drug prices,” said the company. In response to this news, the value of Lilly’s stock jumped by 3.6% yesterday.

So no, we don’t expect a quick drop in U.S. prices to be the result of the edict from Trump.

Not Good for Patients

Needless to say, this is not good for people who are living with obesity in the UK. BBC reports that about 1.5 million people are taking Mounjaro in the UK and that most of them are paying out of pocket for it. These political machinations will hit them hard. In fact, they will be the only ones this price hike affects right away. The price the UK’s National Health System pays will not change immediately.

Zaher Toumi, an obesity surgeon in the UK, told us this news is causing great turmoil for his patients:

“I have patients who cannot afford any increase. They have to stop the drug if their car requires repair. They simply cannot afford any extra financial pressure.”

Add to this the fact that this medicine is out of reach for an overwhelming majority of people who need it and it is plain to see that people living with obesity are getting a raw deal from this political monkey business.

In any other market, innovation brings costs down. We are not yet seeing this for obesity care. It’s overdue.

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Man Lifting Up a Baby, painting by Salvador Dali / WikiArt

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August 15, 2025