Eli Lilly Raises Mounjaro Prices in Canada Amid Trump Pressure

Eli Lilly & Co. has increased the Canadian list prices of its tirzepatide products in response to Trump administration pressure to rebalance global drug prices, with wholesale Kwikpen prices now ranging from $387 to $773 depending on dosage [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Trump-Driven Rebalancing

In an unsigned statement, Eli Lilly said it supports the U.S. administration's goal of "more fairly sharing the costs of breakthrough medical research across developed countries" and acknowledged that prices paid by governments and health systems outside the United States need to rise so U.S. prices can fall [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. The company is simultaneously raising the list price of Mounjaro in Britain by 170 per cent, Reuters reported [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

The action follows letters U.S. President Donald Trump sent to 17 drug companies, including Lilly, two weeks earlier instructing them to increase prices in non-U.S. markets [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. In May, Trump signed an executive order directing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to work with drug companies on "most favoured nation" pricing [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Kwikpen Pricing and Vial Phase-Out

Lilly introduced Mounjaro in Canada in late 2023, originally selling single-dose vials at a wholesale price of around $80 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. The company introduced the four-dose Kwikpen format in January 2025 and a Kwikpen form of Zepbound in June, while raising vial prices to align with the Kwikpen and lowering vial production [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Lilly spokesman Ethan Pigott said vials "were only intended as a short-term solution until a multidose pen became available to the Canadian market," adding that the Kwikpen device will be prioritized going forward [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Cubic Health, which analyzes drug prices for insurance-plan sponsors, told clients in a recent note that the annual cost of taking Mounjaro has more than doubled for high dosages since it first came to Canada, and that the wholesale Kwikpen price now ranges from $387 to $773 depending on dosage, which can lead to an annual cost of more than $10,000 [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. Current verified pharmacy prices tracked on GLP1Prices.ca span $149 to $800 across dosages for Mounjaro, reflecting variation by pharmacy, province, insurance and discount programs.

Public Coverage Status

Pigott said both tirzepatide products are "priced to reflect the value they can provide to individuals, health systems, and society" [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. Mounjaro and Zepbound are covered by some private insurance plans depending on plan design but are not yet covered by any public insurance plans [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Lilly began an application to Canada's Drug Agency for Mounjaro in 2022, but a CDA spokesperson said the submission was cancelled because of paperwork deficiencies [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. Pigott said Lilly is finalizing plans to resubmit Mounjaro along with Zepbound to the CDA "in 2025" [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Tirzepatide vs. Semaglutide Trajectory

The Canadian price hike on tirzepatide diverges sharply from the path of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. Canada became only the second country in the world to approve a generic form of Ozempic, with Health Canada clearing generics from Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Apotex in recent weeks and seven other applications still under review [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166.full.pdf]. The Dr Reddy's version became available in Canada on 15 May [Source: bmj.com/content/393/bmj-2026-597166.full.pdf].

By contrast, generic tirzepatide is not expected to reach the Canadian market for at least seven years, as Eli Lilly's data exclusivity and patent protections on tirzepatide extend well into the 2030s [Source: glp1prices.ca/blog/zepbound-canada-price-availability-2026]. Until then, Mounjaro and Zepbound remain the only tirzepatide products on the Canadian market, both at Lilly's pricing [Source: glp1prices.ca/blog/zepbound-canada-price-availability-2026].

Context for Patients

Ozempic earned $2.5-billion at retail pharmacies in Canada in 2024, according to data from industry broker IQVIA, nearly triple the next best-selling drug [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss]. Drug prices in the U.S. are, on average, more than three times those in Canada [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/article-eli-lilly-mounjaro-kwikpen-trump-tariffs-canada-prices-weight-loss].

Patients tracking how these changes affect their out-of-pocket costs can consult our insurance coverage checker, the generic semaglutide tracker, and the FAQ for verified pharmacy pricing across provinces.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.