Mounjaro maker still seeking PBS listing in Australia
14 Aug 2026
Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks told the ABC that the company wants to continue discussions with the Australian Government about listing tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, on the PBS.
The company previously withdrew from negotiations in April after rejecting a PBS recommendation over pricing. Ricks said the gap between what the company was seeking and the Government’s proposed price was too large to reach an agreement.
He said Eli Lilly was open to different pricing arrangements but wanted an amount it considered fair. The company has pointed to prices in countries such as the UK and Canada where tirzepatide has moved towards public funding.
Pricing is a key issue because medicine prices negotiated in Australia can have wider effects on international pricing and pharmaceutical investment, according to Ricks.
The RACGP has previously highlighted the importance of improving access to evidence-based obesity treatments. It says general practice plays a central role in obesity prevention and management, while access to effective treatments should be more equitable.
The cost of GLP-1 medicines remains a significant barrier for many Australians. A recent Australian study found that around 500,000 people regularly use GLP-1 medicines, with almost half reportedly paying between $200 and $700 out of pocket for uses other than diabetes.
RACGP Specific Interests Diabetes Chair Dr Gary Deed said it was encouraging that Eli Lilly remained interested in working with the Government.
He said public funding needed to balance access to effective obesity treatments with the long-term sustainability of the PBS and funding needs for medicines used to treat other serious conditions.
Dr Deed also warned that several newer weight-loss medicines are being developed, making careful planning important when considering future PBS funding.
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler has also said the main obstacle remains agreeing on a price between the Government and pharmaceutical companies.
The Government says it wants Australians to have equitable access to these medicines but has not yet reached an agreement on the price it is prepared to pay.
Eli Lilly has indicated that it remains open to further discussions and new approaches to reaching an agreement.
Mounjaro maker still seeking PBS listing in Australia
Source: ABC; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).