Sales of Mounjaro weight loss jab to UK suspended as pharmacies hit by shortage ahead of price hike
Why Mounjaro sales to UK wholesalers have been suspended
- Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro, has suspended sales to UK wholesalers due to users stockpiling the medication.
- This suspension follows an announcement that Mounjaro's price in the UK will increase by 170 per cent from September, a decision influenced by efforts to align prices with other European markets and political pressure from the US.
- The price hike and subsequent stockpiling have led to significant shortages at major UK pharmacies, including Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, Superdrug, and Well Pharmacy.
- The National Pharmacy Association and Eli Lilly have warned against bulk-buying, citing potential supply issues and patient safety concerns from a lack of regular checks.
- The increased demand for Mounjaro and its price rise have also led to a surge in orders for alternative weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, with overall GLP-1 medication demand rising by 400 per cent.