Overview

• Eli Lilly has told UK wholesalers to stop taking Mounjaro orders until 1 September to manage demand, with the top dose rising from £122 to £330 next month.
• Boots, Lloyds and Superdrug report shortages, particularly at higher doses, and are prioritising existing patients while some providers pause new registrations or cap supplies.
• Wholesalers are limiting higher‑dose orders and Lilly says allocations, alongside MHRA rules, are in place to deter stockpiling and protect continuity of care.
• Demand is shifting to alternatives such as Wegovy, with one programme reporting a 2,660% sales surge and providers citing a broader spike in GLP‑1 prescriptions.
• Pharmacy leaders warn of black‑market risks as Border Force seized about 18,300 illegal or fake weight‑loss and diabetes pens at Heathrow over the past year, and Lilly says the UK price move aligns with European markets following US pressure to curb domestic costs.