Mounjaro UK Shipments Halted
- In late July 2023, then-President Donald Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, demanding they propose price cuts for medications sold...
- This strategy was highlighted in August 2024, with the planned price increase for Mounjaro in the UK.
- In May 2023, President Trump publicly discussed the cost of weight-loss medications, referring to a drug as the "fat-shot drug." He recounted a conversation with a friend in...
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Trump’s Pressure on Drug Prices and Mounjaro‘s UK Price Hike
Table of Contents
Updated August 28, 2024, 09:46:14 AM PDT
The Context: US Drug Pricing and International Markets
In late July 2023, then-President Donald Trump sent letters to 17 major pharmaceutical companies, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, demanding they propose price cuts for medications sold in the United States within 60 days. This action followed growing public and political pressure to address the high cost of prescription drugs in the US.Trump’s approach involved a strategy of encouraging higher prices in other countries to offset potential losses from US price reductions.
This strategy was highlighted in August 2024, with the planned price increase for Mounjaro in the UK. Eli Lilly, the US pharmaceutical company manufacturing Mounjaro, is set to raise the UK list price of the drug by up to 170% starting in September 2024. The Guardian reports that this increase has left UK users “devastated.”
Mounjaro and the “Fat-Shot Drug” Controversy
In May 2023, President Trump publicly discussed the cost of weight-loss medications, referring to a drug as the “fat-shot drug.” He recounted a conversation with a friend in London who purchased the medication for $88, compared to $1,300 in New York. While Trump did not specifically name Mounjaro at the time,the context strongly suggests he was referring to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists like Mounjaro and Ozempic,which are used for both diabetes and weight loss.
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a medication developed by eli Lilly used to treat type 2 diabetes. It has also gained significant attention for its effectiveness in promoting weight loss. The drug works by mimicking the effects of natural hormones that regulate blood sugar and appetite. Eli Lilly’s official website provides detailed facts about the drug.
The UK Price Increase and Supply Pauses
Prior to the planned price increase, Eli Lilly paused shipments of mounjaro to the UK. The Guardian reports this was done to manage demand ahead of the price change. This pause has caused concern among UK patients who rely on the medication.