‘King Kong' of fat jabs could DOUBLE in price – soaring to over £300 for the max doses

The Sun

4 days ago

MOUNJARO prices in the UK could double as the manufacturer will next month hike the rate it charges pharmacies for the fat jab.
US-based Eli Lilly said it is increasing charges for the blockbuster weight loss injection in Britain to 'address inconsistencies' with what it commands from other rich countries.
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A middle-sized 5mg dose will nearly double from £92 to £180 from September 1.
The maximum available dose, 15mg, will rise from £122 to £330.
Lilly said it has struck a secret, cheaper deal with the NHS to ensure availability for the patients most in need.
It also claimed to have negotiated with big private suppliers to ensure the whole increase is not passed on to patients.
'At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average
Eli Lilly & Co
More than a million Brits are thought to be taking the weight loss injection privately and now face an increase in their monthly bill.
Ministers are keen to use the drug to tackle the UK's bulging waistline and roll it out to millions more people over the next decade.
A Lilly spokesperson said: 'Following a review, Lilly will increase the UK list price for Mounjaro (tirzepatide) from 1 September to address pricing inconsistencies compared to other developed countries, including in Europe.
'We have reached an agreement with the NHS to ensure continued supply and patient access.
'While Lilly does not determine the prices that private healthcare providers set, we are working with them to maintain patient access.
'The UK was one of the first countries where Lilly launched Mounjaro, and our priority was to bring it to patients as quickly as possible during a time of limited supply of GLP-1 RA treatments for type 2 diabetes.
'At launch, Lilly agreed to a UK list price that is significantly below the European average to prevent delays in NHS availability.
'With changes in the environment and new clinical evidence supporting the value of Mounjaro, we are now aligning the list price more consistently to ensure fair global contributions to the cost of innovation.'
Everything you need to know about fat jabs
Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases.
Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK.
Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market.
Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year.
How do they work?
The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight.
They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists.
They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high.
Can I get them?
NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics.
Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure.
GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss.
Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk.
Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health.
Are there any risks?
Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild.
Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea.
Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at patient.info, said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.'
Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia.
Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health.
Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines.