Mounjaro jab users warned to avoid unlicensed sellers as price rise looms

People using the weight loss jab Mounjaro have been warned against switching to unlicensed sellers or bulk buying after the drug's manufacturer said its price would rise significantly this autumn.

- Nicola Davis

The US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, which makes Mounjaro, recently announced plans to increase the price of the medication in the UK by as much as 170% from September. The move follows pressure from the US president, Donald Trump, to cut medication prices for Americans.

Eli Lilly has said the NHS would be shielded from the price rise, but with few people eligible for access through the health service, most purchase Mounjaro privately. A month's supply of the highest dose costs about £200 through many online pharmacies and that is now expected to go up.

Henry Gregg, the chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association, said the rising cost of Mounjaro had caused understandable concern to patients and pharmacies alike.

"We'd urge patients to avoid bulk ordering Mounjaro as well as buying the medication at massively reduced prices," he said. "Bulk ordering can have a significant impact on supply and pose a potential risk to patient safety.