Can't afford the increase price of Mounjaro

[ZoeSparkles]

I've been on the Mounjaro pen since 12th of November 2024. I've lost almost 4st, its been a slower process for me as I'm physically disabled & can't exercise or walk much or far. I've been paying for my pen with my benefits. But there's no way I'm going to be able to afford these new price increases, my only option is to change to Wegovy but then if everyone changes to Wegovy it will only be a matter of time before they increase those prices as well, then what happens? I think its very unfair for people that really need & want to lose the weight especially for health reasons like myself & just won't be able to afford it anymore.

I don’t think there is any indication that the Danish company that own Wegovy are going to raise prices. It’s been around longer for a start. Lots of people started on Wegovy and then moved to Mounjaro (it was originally cheaper).

The Eli Lilly price rise was in part to do with Trump and his need for cheaper medication in US. And it had been priced much lower in UK than Europe.

It is awful for those that can’t afford it now (I’m not sure if I can). But they are a business and will always put the money for their shareholders above anything else.

Yes, the list price here in the US is just over $1,000 per month without health insurance. Lower obviously with insurance, but then you’re paying the monthly insurance premiums. It’s expensive here.

I don’t think wegovy will increase price, if they do, it would be pointless, people who can pay will prefer mounjaro. Plus the active ingredient for wegovy comes out of trademark next summer, with 4 generic versions ready to go, which will be much cheaper, likely the delivery system will be different ie maybe vials. As I think that patent doesn’t expire yet. So I’d not be concerned, they will want to increase sales now, to make more money, and keeping the price as is, and getting more customers on the brand drug before the generics hit is the way to do it,

for mounjaro, yes they screwed everyone, but there is 8 more drugs in final testing, so I would assume as they are at the ceiling now, and the new drugs won’t be much higher priced, as no one will buy, then mounjaro will drop at that point to maintain sales, so I suspect this increase is for a year or two,

the market is evolving quickly, very quickly, this is just the start. If it was me, I’d have no hesitation moving to wegovy. And if I was just starting now, I’d absolutely try that one first.

Why aren’t you getting help from your GP if you’re disabled?

Presumably her disability doesn't qualify her for Mounjaro on the NHS!

It’s very limited who can get the drugs on the nhs, it’s not th4 case if you’re disabled you get them, you need to be either diabetic, with uncontrolled blood sugar levels, or bmi over 40 with four weight related health conditions. The nhs has no money.

I’m surprised someone in receipt of benefits can afford it to be honest. I work full time and I don’t qualify for it on the NHS either. I simply can’t afford it.

@Wildfairy That’s interesting, I didn’t know that generic versions were so close to hitting the market. That’ll be a game changer and make WL drugs far more accessible.

Everyone is different, depends on situation such as what they earn, if have kids, that's a bigger expense, whether have a partner who earns, whether someone spends more than someone who saves more, if someone spend on alcohol, vapes/smokes, eating out, goes on holiday etc compared to someone who doesn't do all that..and the list goes on.

Well done on your weight loss so far. There might be ways around the price hike to help you stay on it for longer. From the looks of it, many suppliers are still offering first time customers a discount so if you’re prepared to shop around each month, you might still get a good deal that’s only a bit more than what you were paying. You could also talk to your existing supplier and see if it’s ok to space out your doses (I believe this is totally fine) and take it once every 10 days or 2 weeks. Obviously you’re still paying the higher price but it would last you longer and then probably balance out over time.

And as another PP has said, there’s several new drugs in near final trials at the moment. This time next year there might be all kinds of good products on the market.

From a pharmaceutical point of view, it’s not in their business interests in the UK to have a drug that is out of the price range of the average person. So I do think cheaper alternatives will be on their way soon.

It doesn’t say she doesn’t work. PIP is for disabled people and is not an out of work benefit.

You're correct, however if she works and claims benefits then I'd be quite surprised that she couldn't afford it.

True, I guess.

Everyone’s financial circumstances are different. Minimum wage job + benefits? Rent or mortgage, single parent, debt, all sorts of reasons.

If that is the case, change jobs, go for a promotion or cutback on something else. Social life, hobbies, holidays, food etc. Matter of priority? What are your long term plans re weight loss. Maybe this has given you the incentive to lose weight and now you can self manage without medication.

I appreciate that, but with earned income and benefits, plus potential reduced food bill, it's more doable then with just income or just benefits.
As it is, we don't actually know if OP also has earned income.

A relative is literally making the generic versions and yes they are done and waiting but most of the patents have another ten years on them until they run out.

That's interesting. Are there ways around the patents by changing the formula just enough to differentiate whilst keeping efficacy? I expect that's being worked on with speed!

Well done on weight loss so far but claiming it's unfair is a bit petulant.
It's unfair that we are getting a hugely reduced price while every other of country people pay a lot more.

I was really pointing out a stereotype that disabled people on benefits don’t work. We don’t know OPs financial situation.

I am going to have to cut back on stuff, but I feel guilty as it is extra stuff like holidays for my dc that will go. I think it is linked to this idea that somehow we are cheating and lazy for doing WLIs.

My food bill isn’t lower. I’m eating loads more protein, and fresh veg which is pricier. Junk food tends to be cheaper. I am saving on wine though. But I’d already factored that in to initial costs, before the price rises.

I can't afford to carry on. I have only recently started it then the price hikes were announced so I'll have had a couple of months. Not that I've seen much appetite suppression anyway !

Novo Nordisk's (makers of Ozempic/Wegovy) response to Trump's favoured nation pricing (and/or Eli Lilly increases) was to cut the price of Ozempic in US.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/novo-nordisk-slashes-price-ozempic-163953202.html

So hopefully their price in UK of the currently available strengths will not increase.

I've never found junk food cheaper, actual 'building blocks' for meals have always been cheaper, as long as you go for in season options and cheaper cuts of meat.

That’s a shame. It’s the same for my partner to be honest. He’d been taking it for a while and saw good results. The price hikes are unjust.
ixwish I could afford it. I have insulin resistance but I simply can’t afford it. I’d love to lose weight like others have seen. I work full time at a desk job which makes it tricky but I exercise 3 times a week.