Cayman residents relying on the popular weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro are bracing for higher prices after manufacturer Eli Lilly announced a 170% price hike in the United Kingdom starting 1 September.
The company said the increase was aimed at bringing UK prices in line with those in other European markets and will apply to patients paying out of pocket. Since local pharmacies source Mounjaro from the UK, the impact will be felt in Cayman.
The Compass spoke with four pharmacies on island about the impending price increase. So far, prices locally have not changed. Valu-Med Pharmacy confirmed that current stocks are being sold at older prices ($305 for 2.5 mg) but they expect increases of $100 or more once new supplies arrive.
Most of the pharmacists said they are still awaiting updates from UK suppliers.
“As per the information in the British media, we are expecting prices to increase – we are still awaiting an update from our UK suppliers re: availability and costing going forward,” read an email response from Care Pharmacy on Seven Mile Beach.
Another pharmacist warned that higher doses of the GLP-1 drug will likely be the most affected.
“We’re not sure by how much, as UK vendors are still negotiating with Eli Lilly,” she said. “The lower doses are expected to see less of a change than the higher ones. That’s all the information we have at this point.”
For many who credit Mounjaro with transforming their weight-loss journey, the news of a sharp rise in costs feels crushing.
“Hearing about the price increase is such a blow,” said a mother in her 40s who had been getting her supply from Cayman Rehab. “I tried Ozempic and the side effects were unbearable. Mounjaro has been a real game changer for me. If I’d known this was coming, I would have stocked up.”
Another woman in her 50s, prescribed Mounjaro by a local endocrinologist and already experiencing results within weeks, shared similar frustration. She said she is now considering a switch to Wegovy, an alternative treatment from Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk, which also manufactures Ozempic.
Dr. Denise Osterloh, a general and family doctor at Cayman Clinic, said the hikes will severely impact those who rely on Mounjaro for legitimate health needs.
“When Mounjaro first came to Cayman it cost around $3,000 a month. The price then dropped to about $350 per month,” she said. “This increase will severely hit those who have been using it for the right reasons and those who truly need the medication.”
Osterloh noted that insurance coverage is limited.
“Sadly insurance doesn’t cover these meds for many people,” she said. “I try my hardest with insurance companies to get them covered, but this may become harder as costs increase.”
While some people can afford the higher prices, Osterloh warned this may reduce the likelihood of lower costs in the future. She also urged patients not to resort to black market or unverified online sources and encouraged those unable to manage the expense to discuss alternative treatment options with their doctors.
The price jump comes amid broader political and market pressures. Eli Lilly has acknowledged pressure from the Trump administration to raise international drug prices.
The company has said Mounjaro was initially launched in the UK at “significantly below the European average” to speed access for patients, but that it is now aligning its list prices with other developed countries.
With an estimated 500,000 people in the UK taking weight-loss drugs such as Mounjaro and Wegovy – most of them privately – the increase has already caused shortages and frustration.
Related Videos
