Big news for Mounjaro users in the UK! While Eli Lilly announced a major price increase, pharmacies are stepping in with discount plans. But what will you actually pay after the changes? Get the full story on how these price adjustments and new rebates will affect your access to this crucial medication.

The landscape of prescription medication costs in the United Kingdom is undergoing a significant shift, with particular attention focused on Mounjaro, a widely recognized weight loss and diabetes treatment. Despite an impending substantial price increase announced by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, UK pharmacies are poised to implement discount schemes aimed at mitigating the financial impact on patients.

Earlier this month, Eli Lilly declared its intention to raise the UK list price of Mounjaro by an astonishing margin, potentially up to 170%, effective from September 1. This announcement sent ripples through the healthcare sector and among patients relying on the medication, sparking concerns about accessibility and affordability for a crucial health management tool.

However, recent revelations indicate that these steep increases will not translate directly into the final cost for consumers. Confidential documents reviewed by Sky News reveal a strategy by pharmacies to introduce discounts, softening the blow of the manufacturer’s price adjustment and working towards maintaining patient access to the essential treatment.

Despite these anticipated discounts, patients should still expect a notable increase in what they pay. For instance, the 15mg dose of Mounjaro, which previously cost approximately £122 per month, is now projected to rise to around £247.50, even with the new rebate structures in place. This still represents a considerable jump in monthly expenditure for users.

An Eli Lilly spokesperson affirmed the company’s commitment to patient affordability, stating that they are actively “working with private providers on commercial arrangements” to ensure these discounts are passed on. The aim is to make the weight loss medication more accessible, despite the revised list price from the manufacturer.

The spokesperson further elaborated that various providers are already implementing diverse strategies to absorb or offset parts of the price hike, indicating a dynamic response across the private healthcare sector. This proactive approach aims to provide eligible patients with a range of options as the new pricing structure takes effect.

While the new rebate system is designed to “mitigate some of the impact of the increase,” patients are explicitly advised to “still anticipate seeing a rise in prices.” Moreover, pharmacies will receive these rebates retrospectively, meaning they must initially bear the higher cost before being reimbursed, a factor that could influence upfront pricing.

This latest development follows earlier reports that Eli Lilly had temporarily halted orders to wholesalers for Mounjaro, amid surging demand and in anticipation of the price adjustment. Orders are expected to resume on September 1, coinciding with the implementation of the new pricing and discount frameworks.