Eli Lilly Endorses Trump’s Goal by Raising Drug Prices Abroad to Align with U.S. Levels

Eli Lilly has issued a public statement supporting the Trump administration’s aim to align U.S. drug prices with those in other developed countries, but argues this should be achieved by raising prices abroad rather than primarily lowering them in the U.S.1235

To enact this alignment, Lilly is increasing the price of its diabetes and weight loss medication Mounjaro in the U.K. by up to 170%, bringing the highest-dose list price from £122 (about $165) to £330 (about $447).235

Lilly’s move is one of the first by a major pharmaceutical company to explicitly raise prices in foreign markets to address U.S. policy pressures, as prompted by Trump’s ‘most-favored-nation’ strategy.35

According to Lilly, these price increases will not directly impact patients who receive Mounjaro via the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS); the higher prices will primarily affect government purchasers and health systems.2

Lilly’s statement also addresses the broader regulatory and economic climate, referencing possible increases due to new or impending tariffs impacting imported pharmaceuticals, particularly medicines manufactured in Ireland and sold to the U.S.15

Lilly asserts that ‘medicine prices should reflect their value for patients, health systems, and society,’ and is negotiating price increases in Europe while ensuring continued patient access.1

The average brand-name drug price in the U.S. remains more than four times higher than in comparable countries according to available research, despite these recent actions.2

Sources:

1. https://www.pharmexec.com/view/eli-lilly-statement-drug-pricing-innovation-tariffs

2. https://www.emarketer.com/content/eli-lilly-will-raise-drug-prices-europe--including-weight-loss-drug-mounjaro

3. https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/14/eli-lilly-drug-prices-europe-uk/

5. https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/to-align-drug-prices-with-trumps-priorities-eli-lilly-raises-them-abroad/