Happy Sunday all, and welcome to this week's waffle, which was hastily rewritten on Friday morning, as we woke to the news that Eli Lilly, manufacturer of one of the most useful/game-changing drugs to be released in years, Mounjaro, is doubling (almost tripling) the wholesale price. To give you a sense of the absolute increase, wholesale prices per 4-week pen for the strongest doses are going up by £200 from 1st September!
Here we ponder the possible impact and next steps.
Is stock piling worth considering?
We understand that it’s very tempting to try simply buying up stock before the price change. Temporarily setting aside the supply chain implications, this is not as simple as it sounds. Mounjaro (and Wegovy, incidentally) work on titrating doses, meaning they go up every month or two months initially, settle at a 'cruising' level optimised for weight loss, (which varies by individual) before titrating back down again. This makes it difficult to judge which doses to stockpile, and it could cost you more if the wrong ones are picked. Please don't be tempted to eek out higher dose pens over a longer time period- the medication will expire before you've had a chance to use it all. And bear in mind that even unopened pens have a set shelf life, which may expire if you try to buy too far ahead.
In any event, it would be no surprise if petrol pump economics kicks in, resulting either in shortages (everyone loses!) or limits being implemented to protect consistent supply levels.
How about switching to Wegovy instead?
With Wegovy suddenly and unexpectedly, the overall lower cost per month option, many patients might consider switching. This is an option, but it's important not to attempt to simply jump across from one to another. Mounjaro and Wegovy have similar mechanisms, but they are not directly interchangeable, nor are their dosage levels easily comparable. To switch, you would first need to go through a wash-out period (coming off Mounjaro for a number of weeks) and then start on the lowest dose of Wegovy, working up from the lowest doses again. The decision of whether to 'stick or twist' is then influenced by factors such as how far along/how close to target you are. Plus, as an independent prescriber, at WGP we have to acknowledge that there is a reason why Mounjaro quickly became the 'go to' option. (Our pharmacy colleagues confirm this is a broad trend also) We have found that Mounjaro has been more effective for our patients, with fewer troublesome side effects. So please don’t make a knee-jerk change of plan without careful consideration and chatting everything through with a qualified medical professional.
Time to double down (or up?) on your holistic weight loss measures. If you have been enjoying the Mounjaro-supported weight loss but sitting on your diet and exercise laurels, then maybe take this as your cue to recommit. We have always said that weight loss injections should be considered as a medium-term intervention, used in conjunction with improved dietary and exercise habits. The aim is to achieve and maintain a healthy weight with minimal (if any) need for ongoing medication. And with Big Pharma now hiking the bills seemingly arbitrarily, this seems all the more desirable, for both physical and financial wellbeing!
Two great friends of Winchester GP are Kate Houldsworth (nutrition coach) and Kaye Osborne (nutritional therapist) - both come highly recommended if you do not have some specific nutritional support in place whilst also using Mounjaro/Wegovy.
All the more reason to get bespoke, medical support
With such price volatility, it’s quite natural to feel a little cast adrift as a patient, so you need a medical partner who is set up to give you the level of support we think you deserve at times like this. At Winchester GP, we deliver bespoke, responsive, fully independent medical advice, so that our patients can navigate these choppier seas in safety and as much comfort as possible. The most cost-effective way to access our support (without any seismic pricing shocks) is either our weightloss support package, saving at least £100 over a 6 month period, or one of our pay-monthly subscriptions, which start at just £48/month.
Wishing you all a wonderful week,
Gemma, Tom and all at Winchester GP
:-)