Mounjaro®
Starting from £179.99/mo
Start journey Learn moreThe factors that actually separate Mounjaro and Wegovy on price, and what the evidence says about each
The mechanism difference that drives the price gap
Wegovy contains semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist: it mimics a single gut hormone involved in appetite regulation and slows gastric emptying. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which mimics two gut hormones (GLP-1 and GIP) making it the only dual-agonist weight-loss medicine licensed in the UK. That second receptor pathway is not a marketing detail; it is a genuinely different pharmacological approach, and developing, trialling and manufacturing it cost more. Eli Lilly priced Mounjaro accordingly, and the list price rose further from 1 September 2025, with reported private market prices at higher doses now ranging from around £149 to over £300 per month depending on dose and provider, compared with broadly lower figures for Wegovy at equivalent stages. These are market figures, hedged as reported, neither represents a fixed price, and they vary between services.
If you want to understand whether the clinical difference justifies the cost difference for your situation, our comparison of tirzepatide and semaglutide effectiveness walks through what the trials actually found.
What the head-to-head trial tells us about value for money
For many years the comparison between Mounjaro and Wegovy rested on separate trials with different designs. That changed with SURMOUNT-5, an open-label head-to-head study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2025, which enrolled 751 adults with obesity and no diabetes over 72 weeks. Tirzepatide produced a greater average weight reduction than semaglutide 2.4mg. NICE's appraisal of tirzepatide (TA1026, published December 2024) referenced indirect comparisons pointing in the same direction. Wegovy's newer 7.2mg dose, approved by the MHRA in April 2026, narrows that gap, trial data at 7.2mg showed around 20.7% average weight loss over 72 weeks, closer to tirzepatide's top-dose results. So the question of is Wegovy more expensive than Mounjaro at a given level of outcome is becoming genuinely harder to answer cleanly. A deeper look at whether semaglutide can match tirzepatide on outcomes covers the evolving evidence.
Neither medicine guarantees any specific result for any individual. Trial averages describe populations, not individuals. Your prescriber weighs the evidence alongside your own clinical picture.
Comparing the two medicines directly
| Factor | Mounjaro (tirzepatide) | Wegovy injection (semaglutide) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Typical private market price range (reported, 2025–26) | Higher (reported roughly £149–£330+/month by dose | Lower) reported broadly £149–£250/month by dose |
| Average weight loss (headline trial figure) | Up to ~20–21% at 15mg over 72 weeks (SURMOUNT-1, NEJM) | ~15% at 2.4mg over 68 weeks (STEP 1, NEJM); ~20.7% at 7.2mg over 72 weeks |
| UK licence for weight management | Yes (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related condition) | Yes (BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with a weight-related condition) |
| Format | Once-weekly injection, KwikPen | Once-weekly injection, pre-filled pen; dedicated 7.2mg single-dose pen from April 2026 |
| Storage | Refrigerated; limited room-temperature window per SmPC | Refrigerated; limited room-temperature window per SmPC |
Price figures are market-reported and approximate; current treatment pricing at nume is shown on our treatment page rather than here, because it is confirmed at consultation and varies by dose. For a fuller side-by-side, our Wegovy vs Mounjaro comparison covers mechanism, eligibility and access in more depth.
The decision framing that actually helps
If you are trying to decide between Mounjaro and Wegovy, a few things are worth holding in mind. First, you cannot simply choose one and order it, both require a prescription following clinical assessment, full stop. Second, your prescriber may have a clinical reason to favour one over the other: existing medications, a history of GI sensitivity, or a comorbidity can all tip the decision. Third, the cost difference is real, but so is the difference in mechanism and the evidence base around it. A small monthly saving on a treatment that is less suitable for you is not actually a saving.
Both medicines share a GI-led side-effect profile, nausea, changes to bowel habit and appetite shifts are common early on, particularly after a dose step, and usually settle. The safety comparison between Wegovy and Mounjaro covers the differences and similarities in more detail if that is part of your thinking.
Storage is similar for both: the pens live in the fridge (most people tuck them in the fridge door) and the SmPC gives the exact window for how long either can sit at room temperature; always check the leaflet rather than any third-party summary. If you are weighing up practical day-to-day differences rather than clinical ones, the Wegovy v Mounjaro practical guide is a useful read alongside this page.
For people already on one treatment and wondering whether switching is worth it, our page on moving from Mounjaro to Wegovy addresses that specific situation, and our breakdown of the price difference between Mounjaro and Wegovy goes into more granular cost context. Explore the full range of options available through our weight-loss treatment overview.
Which medicine is right for you is a clinical decision. Our prescribers make it with you (not for you) based on the full picture. Start your free consultation to have your health history reviewed the same day by a GPhC-registered prescriber.
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