NPPA says consumers are expected to save Rs 3,502 crore annually
NEW DELHI: Prices of more than 1,000 anti-cancer medicine formulations across different brands will come down from November 9 following the government’s decision to cap trade margins on 137 anti-cancer drugs, with estimated annual savings to consumers projected at Rs 3,502.31 crore.
The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins at 30 per cent on the maximum retail price (MRP) of the identified medicines. The decision follows recommendations of an expert committee constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on October 17, 2026.
According to the NPPA, 76 pharmaceutical companies have so far reported revised MRPs for 1,225 formulations covering 121 drugs. Price reductions have been reported in 1,031 formulations, with 600 brands recording reductions of more than 50 per cent. The highest reported reduction is 96.45 per cent.
The authority said 10 to 15 of the 137 identified anti-cancer drugs have not yet been launched in India. The trade margin cap will also apply to these medicines when they enter the Indian market.
Among the major reductions, the price of Zydus Lifesciences’ Bryxta, a brand of bevacizumab injection used in the treatment of lung, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers, has been revised from Rs 25,995 to Rs 3,318. Reliance Life Sciences’ BevaciRel has been reduced from Rs 24,079 to Rs 3,985, while Hetero Healthcare’s CIZUMAB has been cut from Rs 15,658 to Rs 3,103.
In the case of abiraterone acetate tablets used for prostate cancer, the MRP of Arvincare Pharma’s ABIRONE has been reduced from Rs 41,250 to Rs 3,218.23. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals’ Abirapro has been revised from Rs 28,744 to Rs 5,768.
The price of pegfilgrastim injection, used to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients, has also been reduced substantially. Hetero Healthcare’s PEG FILTERO has been revised from Rs 9,093 to Rs 1,631, while Reliance Life Sciences’ Peg-ReliGrast has been reduced from Rs 5,331 to Rs 1,258.
Other medicines witnessing significant price reductions include azacitidine injections used for blood cancer, enzalutamide capsules for prostate cancer, fulvestrant injections for breast cancer, palbociclib capsules for breast cancer and pemetrexed injections used in lung cancer treatment.
The NPPA said trade margin rationalisation for non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines was intended to improve the affordability and accessibility of essential medicines for cancer treatment.
The notification, SO 5690(E), issued on October 17, 2026, will remain in force until further orders. Manufacturers may undertake annual price increases in accordance with Paragraph 20(1) of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, provided they continue to comply with the maximum permissible trade margin of 30 per cent.
The authority has directed retailers, dealers, hospitals and medical institutions to prominently display revised MRP lists on their premises and websites. State Drug Controllers will monitor compliance by manufacturers, dealers, hospitals and medical institutions.
Consumers can check revised medicine prices through the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application and the NPPA website. Complaints regarding overcharging or violations of revised prices can be submitted to the authority through email at monitoring-nppa@gov.in, its helpline 1800-11-1255 or by post to the Deputy Director (Monitoring), NPPA, YMCA Cultural Centre Building, 1 Jai Singh Marg, New Delhi.
