The cost of the ‘King Kong’ weight loss jab Mounjaro will not be as much as first feared, leaked documents have revealed.

US pharmaceutical giant Lilly, which manufactures the drug, has reportedly backed down after mounting pressure over its planned price hike.

Earlier this month, plans were revealed indicating the cost of a particular medication would see a significant increase starting September 1. The wholesale price for a month’s supply of the highest dose was set to jump from £122 to £330.

Even mid-range doses, such as the 5mg pen, would jump from about £92 to £180. 

Now, however, documents have shown the cost of the highest dose will rise to £247.50—almost £100 less than planned. 

Lower doses will get smaller discounts under the new price list. 

Lilly released a statement saying they are collaborating with private providers to create commercial deals that maintain affordable pricing. These new arrangements are expected to benefit patients once they take effect on September 1.

‘We are already seeing providers respond in different ways to the list price change, with a range of options available for eligible patients.’ 

Eli Lilly, the company manufacturing the drug, faced increasing public pressure over the proposed price increase. It’s been decided that the price hike will not be as substantial as previously mentioned.

It comes as slimmers have rushed to stockpile months worth of Mounjaro after panic grew over its soaring cost.

Social media users have boasted online of getting their hands on months worth of injection pens, to avoid having to pay the new price. 

Pharmacies have also warned that patients have been ‘Covid-style’ panic-buying the drug since the announcement.

It has left some experts fearing patients may be tempted by black market sellers who flog the jabs at reduced prices—putting their health at risk.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Border Force at Heathrow seized over 18,000 illegal medications for weight loss and diabetes, including counterfeit Ozempic and Mounjaro pens.

According to data from Chemist4U, an online pharmacy group, smugglers were caught at the airport with fake Mounjaro pens concealed on their persons.

Yesterday, Lilly also announced it was temporarily pausing the supply of Mounjaro to the UK until the price hike is enforced.

The US pharmaceutical giant claimed this was to ensure they are not stockpiling at the current lower price. 

Health officials cautioned that this decision might cause further concern among patients and place additional strain on pharmacy staff, who have already extended their working hours to offer advice on weight loss injections following the initial announcement of the price increase.

Dr Leyla Hannbeck, CEO of the Independent Pharmacies Association told the Daily Mail: ‘It is completely unacceptable that Eli Lilly has not only decided to cause significant instability by increasing prices with minimal notice, but is now making matters worse by suspending supply until those higher prices take effect in September.

‘Lilly’s latest move is throwing the system into chaos.

‘It is utterly wrong that patients are being made to suffer as a result of Eli Lilly’s pursuit of profit. 

‘There is still time for Eli Lilly to reverse this disastrous decision, and I sincerely urge them to do the right thing.’

Eli Lilly said the UK was one of the first countries to roll out Mounjaro, and the list price had been significantly lower than the European average.

In a statement, it said: ‘We are now aligning the list price more consistently to ensure fair global contribution to the cost of innovation.’

At least half a million NHS patients and some 15million patients in the US are now thought to be using weight-loss jabs, which can help patients lose up to 20 per cent of their body weight in just a few months. 

And the numbers using them privately are even higher. 

Under official guidelines, only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35 and at least one weight-related health problem like high blood pressure, or those who have a BMI of 30 to 34.9 and meet the criteria for referral to a specialist weight management service, should be prescribed weight-loss jabs.