The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced revised maximum retail prices (MRPs) for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines following the government’s decision to cap trade margins at 30%. The revised prices, scheduled to take effect on November 9, are aimed at reducing treatment costs and improving access to cancer medicines across India.
The revised price list, released on Wednesday, covers several commonly used cancer medicines, including Anastrozole, Azacitidine, Bevacizumab, Dasatinib, Denosumab and Enzalutamide.
Significant Price Reductions Across Cancer Medicines
According to the NPPA’s revised list, the price of Anastrozole tablets, used in breast cancer treatment, has been reduced from ₹695.76 to ₹73 for a pack of 10 tablets.
Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ Azacytin injection (Azacitidine) will now cost ₹1,495.04 per vial, compared with its previous MRP of ₹6,337. Similarly, Abbott Healthcare’s Bevacizab injection has been reduced from ₹21,767.70 to ₹5,930.13 for a 4 ml vial.
Other revisions include Natco Pharma’s Dasanat 20 tablets, reduced from ₹2,812.50 to ₹1,085.93 for 60 tablets, and RPG Life Sciences’ Debrumab 60 mg injection, whose MRP has declined from ₹22,031.25 to ₹5,941.
RPG Life Sciences’ Enuta capsules have also seen a price reduction from ₹6,578.20 to ₹2,232 for a pack of 28 capsules.
Trade Margins Capped at 30%
On October 17, the NPPA introduced trade margin rationalisation for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs after concerns were raised over substantial differences between procurement prices and the MRPs charged to consumers.
Under the revised pricing mechanism, the trade margin cannot exceed 30% of the applicable pre-retail price base, with GST added separately. Manufacturers have been instructed to calculate and submit revised MRPs accordingly.
The medicines covered include immunotherapy drugs used for more than 20 types of cancer, along with treatments such as Denosumab and Pegfilgrastim.
NPPA to Continue Updating Revised Price List
The regulator stated that the published prices reflect information submitted by pharmaceutical manufacturers up to October 27. Additional revisions will be incorporated as companies submit updated pricing details.
The initiative is intended to ensure that reductions in trade margins translate into lower retail medicine prices, easing the financial burden on patients undergoing cancer treatment.
View the Complete List of 543 Anti-Cancer Medicine Brands and Their Revised MRPs Here
