Price of Mounjaro could be discounted in UK pharmacies

The company behind the popular drug loss drug Mounjaro has offered a reduced agreement to British suppliers who should limit prices to consumers from September.

Earlier this month, Eli Lilly announced that he was setting up the price of the drug list up to 170%, which could have mean the highest cost of the dose from £ 122 to £ 330 per month.

But the BBC understands that the highest dose will now be sold to suppliers for £ 247.50.

Pharmacies and other private weight loss services will add their own increase to consumers, but this means that the rise in prices for patients is unlikely to be as important as it is initially fear.

Eli Lilly originally said that the price of the United Kingdom of Mounjaro had to increase to be more in line with higher prices in Europe and the United States.

President Donald Trump had previously complained about the high cost of medicines in the United States, compared to other countries, and threatened the pharmaceutical industry if they did not act.

The agreement does not affect the price that the NHS pays, because the service has negotiated its own rate strongly retained for those who obtain the prescription drug.

The weekly injection works by making you feel full so that you eat less and that you can help people lose 20% of their body weight.

Currently, there are around 1.5 million people on weight loss drugs in the United Kingdom with more than half of them on Mounjaro. The estimates suggest that nine out of 10 pay these drugs in private, buying from online services and street pharmacies.

Eli Lilly said: “We are working with private providers on commercial arrangements to maintain affordability and we expect them to be transmitted to patients when the change is effective on September 1.

“We already see providers react in different ways to the price change of the list, with a range of options available for eligible patients.”

The price that the consumer pays depends on the service in which they buy the weight loss medication.

Some offer more lifestyle and food support on medication than others.

The BBC has spoken to a number of services and the price increase for customers can be held less than 50% for higher doses and even less for lower doses.

Olivier Picard, of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Pharmacies will do their best to support patients when prices change.

“This discount will reduce part of the impact of the increase, but patients should always expect an increase in prices on September 1.

“Pharmacies work hard to support their patients and explore if there are options to minimize the disturbances of their treatment program.”