Rapid uptake of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) are redefining obesity therapy in the UK. These new drugs have opened new therapy options for patients for whom treatment options previously were very limited: beyond lifestyle change.
However, the private market faces mounting pressure in the face of growing demand. Eli Lilly has announced they will boost the private Mounjaro price by up to 170 per cent this autumn, and there are concerns that patients reliant on private prescribing will end up paying much higher. Similarly, there has been massive demand for Wegovy – with reported price rises of more than 2,000 per cent.
In this context, Professor Mike Bewick of Curia’s Health, Care and Life Sciences Research Group Advisory Board warns:
“As the relatively new wave of GLP1 – receptor agonists become established in the UK as a major therapeutic intervention in obesity management, market fluctuations in terms of price will have knock on supply issues ahead of such increases. Patients currently receive their medication via private providers who will soon have to pass on the scheduled increase.
– Professor Mike Bewick
It underlines the need for a national obesity strategy, working with private providers, to ensure that treatment programmes can alleviate some of the price pressures through national procurement and commissioning processes to smooth out any sudden change in price or supply.”
Professor Bewick’s comments highlight the risks of leaving such a significant new therapy entirely to private market forces. Without intervention, patients could face the double burden of rising costs and unstable supply – and thus inequalities in access to treatments may raise their head. As Professor Bewick outlines, a national approach would allow the Government and the NHS to work with private providers to pool procurement, stabilise supply chains, and prevent sudden price spikes. With one in four adults in England living with obesity, the need to integrate GLP-1 therapies into a sustainable, nationwide strategy is urgent.
When used appropriately, these medicines have the potential to reduce obesity-related ill health and relieve pressure on the NHS. But achieving fair and consistent access will require careful planning and coordination, not just clinical innovation.
