SharpyMounjaro PBS: Listing Ceased, What Australians Pay Now
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is not on the PBS for any use, and the listing process has now ceased. The PBS status page, current at 1 November 2026, says the company is not proceeding, after Eli Lilly turned down the price terms that came with a March 2026 recommendation for type 2 diabetes. Australians pay privately, about $280 to $690 per four-week pen at Chemist Warehouse in October 2026. Whatever you pay, Sharpy helps you protect muscle with one protein target and one 20-minute workout a day.
Is Mounjaro on the PBS? No. The Mounjaro PBS listing process has ceased, so there is no subsidised script for type 2 diabetes, weight loss or sleep apnoea. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) status page, current at 1 November 2026, says the company advised it is not proceeding at this time. Australian outlet NewsCop reported the change on 6 November 2026.
For most people, that means paying the full private price. Here is how it happened, what you pay now and what your options are. (This guide is about Australia's medicine subsidy, not the US TV network. Mounjaro access in the US is a separate system.)
Mounjaro PBS news: how four bids ended
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 2023 | First PBAC look at tirzepatide. No recommendation |
| November 2024 | Second submission. No recommendation |
| July 2025 | Third look. Recommendation deferred |
| 11 March 2026 | PBAC recommends listing for adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes |
| 24 April 2026 | Lilly says Mounjaro will not go on the PBS under the proposed conditions |
| 12 August 2026 | Lilly CEO David Ricks tells the ABC the company still wants a deal |
| 1 November 2026 | PBS status page shows the process has ceased |
The PBAC is the expert committee that advises the government on what to subsidise. A yes from the PBAC is not a listing. The company and the government still have to agree on price and terms, and that is the step that failed here.
Why Lilly said no
Lilly's April statement, from Australia and New Zealand general manager Manny Simons, gave these reasons:
- Price. Lilly said the offer was lower than any other reimbursed price in the world.
- Funding caps. Lilly said strict caps would leave the company with too much financial risk.
- Prescribing limits. Lilly said the PBAC rejected safeguards to limit prescribing to eligible patients, so it could end up paying for other patients too.
- The benchmark. Lilly objected to a price comparison with a 20-year-old medicine that is no longer sold in Australia and needs 14 times as many injections.
Lilly estimated that up to 450,000 Australians with type 2 diabetes could have used a listing. That number is Lilly's own, marked "data on file", and has not been independently checked.
The government sees it differently. Health Minister Mark Butler said tough price talks with drug companies are common, and that they help keep the PBS sustainable. In August, Ricks said: "We definitely want Mounjaro to be listed on the PBS scheme." He added that the company could look at new kinds of deals, but would not accept access at any price. Lilly has also said it is working with the government on options outside the PBS. We found no report of an agreement on either.
Mounjaro PBS price vs private price
Had it been listed, a general patient would pay the standard PBS co-payment, which is at most $25 a script in 2026 ($7.70 with a concession card). Instead, you pay the pharmacy's private price.
These Chemist Warehouse prices were published in October 2026. The yearly column is our own math at 13 pens a year, not a quoted price.
| KwikPen strength | Price per pen (4 weekly doses) | Rough cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 mg (starting dose only) | $279.99 | Not a long-term dose |
| 5 mg | $389.99 | About $5,070 |
| 7.5 mg | $539.99 | About $7,020 |
| 10 mg | $539.99 | About $7,020 |
| 12.5 mg | $689.99 | About $8,970 |
| 15 mg | $689.99 | About $8,970 |
Prices differ by pharmacy. One online chemist listed 2.5 mg at $315 and 15 mg at $705 on 3 November 2026. Some news reports still quote "up to $645 a month", so check the current price before you fill a script. Your dose is set by your prescriber. Our Mounjaro dosage chart explains how the pens line up with the label schedule.
Mounjaro PBS criteria: is there any way to qualify?
No. PBS criteria only exist for listed medicines, so no diagnosis or BMI can get you a subsidised Mounjaro script today. Here is where each use stands:
| Use (TGA-approved) | On the PBS? | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|
| Type 2 diabetes | No | PBAC said yes in March 2026, process now ceased |
| Weight management (BMI 30+, or 27 to under 30 with a related condition) | No | Lilly finds it hard to see a path after the diabetes result |
| Moderate to severe sleep apnoea in adults with obesity | No | We found no public record of a PBS submission |
Be wary of any site that says it can get you "Mounjaro on the PBS". A private script from a telehealth service is still a private script.
What are your options now?
Do not stop, skip or stretch doses to save money without talking to your prescriber. Doses need medical advice, and gaps can affect your blood sugar and weight. Bring the cost problem to your GP directly. They may be able to help with these:
- Type 2 diabetes and PBS medicines. RACGP's diabetes chair pointed to Ozempic and Trulicity as PBS options. Our Ozempic Australia guide covers the PBS rules. Whether a switch suits you is a decision for your doctor.
- Weight management. Wegovy is not PBS-listed yet either. A revised submission for adults with heart disease and a BMI of at least 35 was due at the November 2026 PBAC meeting, so most people on it for weight alone would still pay privately. The Wegovy pill is TGA-approved but has no Australian price yet.
- Compare pharmacy prices. Ask for a private quote and compare the cost per four-week pen.
- Skip the shortcuts. The TGA has banned pharmacists from compounding GLP-1 drugs since 1 October 2024 and has warned about fake pens. Grey-market products can contain the wrong drug or none at all.
Want to know how Mounjaro relates to its US twin? See Zepbound vs Mounjaro. Tirzepatide is the same ingredient in both.
At these prices, make the weight you lose count
If you are paying up to $690 a pen, you want the result to be fat loss. Weight lost on GLP-1 drugs is not all fat, and some can come from muscle. Eating enough protein and doing regular strength work are the two habits most worth protecting.
Sharpy turns that into one daily protein target, one 20-minute workout and one Shape Score, so you can see whether your shape is improving as well as your scale number. If you are new to lifting, our beginner strength program needs no gym. Sharpy is a tracking app and does not change what your doctor prescribes.
The bottom line
- Mounjaro is not on the PBS for any use, and the listing process has ceased.
- Private prices were about $280 to $690 a pen at one major chain in October 2026.
- Lilly says it still wants a deal, but no new listing or date has been announced. We will update this guide if that changes.
- Cost trouble is a reason to call your GP, not a reason to stop on your own.
To get the most from each pen, use Sharpy to keep your protein and training on track.
Sources
- PBS medicine status: tirzepatide, current at 1 November 2026
- Lilly Australia statement: No PBS listing for Mounjaro in type 2 diabetes, 24 April 2026
- RACGP newsGP: Mounjaro manufacturer rejects PBS recommendation, 28 April 2026
- Dermatology Republic: PBAC says yes to tirzepatide for T2D, 29 April 2026
- ABC News: Eli Lilly CEO still wants deal on Mounjaro, 12 August 2026
- NewsCop: Mounjaro PBS listing ceased, 6 November 2026
- Vively: Mounjaro cost in Australia, 3 November 2026
- Mediremind: Mounjaro PBS Australia, current status and prices
Questions people ask
Is Mounjaro on the PBS?
No. Mounjaro is not PBS-listed for type 2 diabetes, weight management or sleep apnoea. The PBS medicine status page, current at 1 November 2026, says the company advised it is not proceeding and the listing process has ceased.
When will Mounjaro be on the PBS in Australia?
No date exists. The current process has ceased and we found no report of a new submission. Lilly's CEO said in August 2026 that the company still wants a listing, so this could change, but nothing has been announced.
What are the Mounjaro PBS criteria?
There are none in force, because there is no listing. The PBAC recommendation from March 2026 covered adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. That recommendation never became a PBS item, so it does not give anyone subsidised access.
How much is Mounjaro without the PBS?
Chemist Warehouse prices published in October 2026 were $279.99 for the 2.5 mg pen, $389.99 for 5 mg, $539.99 for 7.5 mg and 10 mg, and $689.99 for 12.5 mg and 15 mg. Each pen holds four weekly doses. Prices vary by pharmacy and can change.
Is Mounjaro on the PBS for sleep apnoea or weight loss?
No. Mounjaro has TGA approval for chronic weight management and for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea in adults with obesity, but neither use is on the PBS. Lilly has said it finds it hard to see a PBS listing for obesity after the diabetes outcome.
Why did Lilly reject the Mounjaro PBS listing?
Lilly said the price was lower than any other reimbursed price in the world, that funding caps put too much financial risk on the company, and that the PBAC rejected safeguards limiting prescribing to eligible patients. Health Minister Mark Butler said tough price talks are a normal part of keeping the PBS sustainable.
What can I do if I cannot afford Mounjaro?
Talk to your GP before you change or stop anything. If you have type 2 diabetes, ask whether a PBS-listed medicine such as Ozempic or Trulicity fits you. Avoid compounded, overseas or social media products, because the TGA has banned compounding of GLP-1 drugs and warned about fakes.