Will Trump raise UK Mounjaro and Wegovy prices?
Peter Paumgardhen | Last update: 15th May 2025
Could your prescription be at risk because of something happening thousands of miles away? A new executive order signed by Donald Trump in the U.S. has raised real concerns about whether cheaper UK access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy could be under threat. Here’s why this unexpected move is making waves and why it matters to our community. (President Donald Trump signs an executive order: The White House / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.)
What’s happening, and why we’re talking about it
On 12 May 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could raise UK Wegovy and Mounjaro prices by tying US drug costs to what other countries pay. His plan uses “most favoured nation” (MFN) pricing and targets countries seen as underpaying for prescription drugs.
The full order is available here: Delivering most-favored-nation prescription drug pricing to American patients
That puts countries like the UK, where weight loss drugs cost far less, squarely in the spotlight.
Why SlimrChat members are worried
On SlimrChat, questions are already popping up, many centred around one big worry: Will Trump raise UK Wegovy and Mounjaro prices?
“Could this mean the UK has to raise its prices to help America save?”
Let’s talk numbers. In the UK, Wegovy can cost between £139 and £269 per month if bought privately, with some health insurers offering discounts. Limited access is also available through the NHS. In the US, the list price is around £1,080 per month ($1,349), though a direct programme from Novo Nordisk can lower that to about £400 per month ($499) for eligible patients. Mounjaro follows a similar pattern. The point is that there’s a clear and significant price gap between the UK and the US, even before insurance comes into play. Trump says that’s unfair, and argues America is carrying the cost of global drug development.
We’re not saying a price hike is guaranteed. But suppliers and even policymakers could feel pressured if the U.S. starts pushing hard.
What Novo Nordisk and Trump’s team are saying
Novo Nordisk, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, recently defended its U.S. prices, blaming insurance middlemen (see NBC News piece here). However, reports suggest manufacturing could cost as little as $4.73 per month.
Trump, meanwhile, is crystal clear: “America will no longer subsidise the healthcare of other countries.” Pharma lobbyists agree, saying nations like the UK should pay more.
Could it affect your NHS prescription?
Not directly, at least not yet. The order doesn’t force other countries to raise prices. But it empowers U.S. trade officials to apply pressure. That’s why people here are worried.
One SlimrChat user summed it up:
“I finally got the help I needed with Mounjaro. Now I’m scared I’ll be priced out if the U.S. picks a fight over it.”
What’s next?
Trump tried a similar policy in 2020, but it was blocked. This time, he’s widened the scope. Whether it holds up in court or not, the message is clear: drug pricing is now a global battlefield.
For now, NHS access remains unchanged. But if you rely on weight loss drugs or plan to, it’s worth keeping this on your radar.
While nothing has changed in the UK yet, it’s worth following this story. After all, the question ‘Will Trump raise UK Wegovy and Mounjaro prices?’ is no longer hypothetical — it’s shaping real concerns. Join the Conversation in the SlimrChat Forum here.