NPPA strikes again on anti-cancer drug prices; Details

New Delhi: Through a recent Office Memorandum, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has released an additional list of 9 brands under the ambit of trade margin rationalization of 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control. Their trade margin has been capped at 30 per cent, which would reduce their retail prices by up to 85 per cent.

These drugs include Erlotinib, Pemetrexed, Epirubicin, Leuprolide acetate, Everolimus in various strength and dosage forms under different brand names.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NPPA had invoked extraordinary powers in public interest, under Para 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control through trade margin rationalization.

Also Read: NPPA caps trade margins to 30 per cent for 42 cancer drugs

In continuation of the same, the NPPA has revised the maximum retail price (MRP) of additional 9 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines based on the data provided by manufacturers.

The drugs are marketed under different brand names internationally, for instance, Everolimus is marketed by Novartis under the trade names Zortress in USA and Certican in Europe and other countries in transplantation medicine while as Afinitor (general tumours) and Votubia (tumours as a result of TSC) in oncology. Everolimus is also available from Biocon, with the brand name Evertor.

The prices of the said drugs have been revised with a steep difference wherein the drug Pemetrexed which was earlier priced at Rs 22000 for 500mg of injections under the brand name Pemxcel has been reduced to Rs 2880, thereby making it really affordable.

The memorandum contains names of the drugs, their strengths and dosage form, brand name, pack size, old MRP and revised MRP in tabular form which reads as below:

Also Read: NPPA fixes retail price of 20 drugs including FDCs for Blood pressure control, dual antiplatelet