From 1 September 2025, Eli Lilly plans to increase the UK private price of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) by up to 170% – with barely any notice.

For many, Mounjaro is not a “lifestyle” drug. It is a life-changing and sometimes life-saving treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity. This sudden and steep price rise will make it unaffordable for countless people, forcing them to stop treatment abruptly.

Stopping treatment can lead to rapid weight regain, loss of diabetes control, increased cardiovascular risk, worsening mental health, and long-term damage to physical health. In the long run, this will increase NHS costs as more patients need intensive care after losing access to medication that was keeping them stable.

Private patients often turned to Mounjaro because NHS access was slow or unavailable. Many now have no realistic NHS route to continue care. Patients around the world are also facing similar access issues and price increases.

We call on Eli Lilly to:

1. Reconsider the scale of this increase.

2. Introduce a phased or capped price plan for existing patients.

3. Implement a patient assistance scheme to protect those already on treatment.

This decision will directly affect thousands of people’s health and futures. We demand that Eli Lilly act responsibly, protect patient access, and prevent avoidable harm.

My Story

I started Mounjaro because my health was suffering and other treatments had failed. Within months I experienced life-changing results, not just in weight loss but in improved blood sugar control, reduced inflammation, increased mobility and better overall health.

I am a parent to a child with special educational needs and my health directly impacts my ability to care for her. Since starting Mounjaro I have had the energy and strength to keep up with her needs, support her daily routines and be the active parent she deserves.

This medication has allowed me to reduce my risk of serious illness, move more freely and live without the constant pain and fatigue that once held me back.

Now with only a few weeks’ notice Eli Lilly’s planned price increase means I may no longer be able to afford it. The thought of losing the progress I have worked so hard for is devastating. I fear my inflammation will return, my health will decline and I will not be able to care for my daughter in the way she needs.

I am not alone. Thousands of people in the UK and around the world are facing the same reality, people who started this treatment in good faith believing it would give them a healthier future. With this sudden change that future is now under threat.