There will be a change on September 1
The price of the weight loss injection Mounjaro is set to be discounted in UK pharmacies, despite an impending price hike next week. Sky News reports that users could save more than £80 on the maximum dosage.
Pharmacy leaders have said that the discount will “mitigate some of the impact” of the increase, but patients should “still anticipate seeing a rise in prices”. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Mounjaro’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, would ramp up the UK list price of the drug by a staggering 170% from 1st September.
This would have catapulted the cost of the highest dose from £122 to a whopping £330 per month. However, documents obtained by Sky indicate that the discount plans mean 15mg of Mounjaro will now rise from £122 a month to £247.50.
A spokesperson for Eli Lilly said: “We are working with private providers on commercial arrangements to maintain affordability and expect these to be passed on to patients when the change is effective on September 1. 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.”
Olivier Picard, chairman of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said: “Pricing is a matter for the manufacturers and pharmacies will do all they can to support patients when prices change. This rebate will mitigate some of the impact of the increase in Mounjaro prices faced by pharmacies but patients should still anticipate seeing a rise in prices from September 1
“Prices advertised in many pharmacies will already reflect this discount and pharmacies will also have to wait to receive this retrospectively after dispensing. Pharmacies will access price rebates if they can as a way of keeping prices accessible. Pharmacies are working hard to support their patients and explore if there are options to minimise disruption to their treatment programme.”
The development follows Eli Lilly’s decision to halt deliveries of Mounjaro to the UK amid surging demand before the cost increase. The firm revealed it has “allocations in place for pharmacies and providers that order stock from us, to manage our supply and ensure patients maintain access”.
“There are legal protections in place, enforced by the MHRA, to prevent inappropriate stockpiling of medicines by providers,” a spokesperson added.
“We encourage patients to only order based on their current treatment plan, to reduce the risk of localised disruption.”