NPPA Announces Revised MRPs for 543 Anti-Cancer Drug Brands, Effective November 9

Key facts

• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) released revised maximum retail prices for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines, effective from November 9.
• The revision follows the government's October 17 policy capping trade margins at 30% for 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.
• The government estimates the initiative could save cancer patients about Rs 2,500 crore annually.
• Anastrozole 1 mg tablets (Anarzole, RPG Life Sciences) fell from Rs 695.76 to Rs 73 per 10-tablet pack, and Azacitidine injection (Azacytin, Dr Reddy's Laboratories) dropped from Rs 6,337 to Rs 1,495.04.
• Bevacizab injection (Abbott Healthcare, 4 ml vial) was reduced from Rs 21,767.70 to Rs 5,930.13, Dasanat 20 mg tablets fell from Rs 2,812.50 to Rs 1,085.93, and Fulbreca injection dropped from Rs 26,072.16 to Rs 5,491.
• The revised list covers medicines for breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers, including immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy supportive care drugs, and builds on a similar 2019 exercise covering 42 anti-cancer drugs.
• State drug controllers are expected to monitor compliance as retailers and hospitals must charge the revised prices from November 9.