SRINAGAR: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines, with the new rates coming into effect from November 9, 2026, in a move aimed at making cancer treatment more affordable.
The revised price list, released by the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, reflects information submitted by pharmaceutical companies up to October 27. The list will be updated as manufacturers submit revised prices of non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
The revised prices include substantial reductions in several medicines. The MRP of RPG Life Sciences’ Anarzole, an anastrozole tablet used in cancer treatment, has been reduced from Rs 695.76 to Rs 73 for a pack of 10 tablets. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ Azacytin injection, containing azacitidine, has been repriced from Rs 6,337 to Rs 1,495.04.
Similarly, Abbott Healthcare’s Bevacizab injection, containing bevacizumab, will cost Rs 5,930.13 for a 4 ml vial, down from Rs 21,767.70. RPG Life Sciences’ Debrumab 60 mg injection has been reduced from Rs 22,031.25 to Rs 5,941.
Other medicines featuring in the revised list include Dasanat 20, whose price has been reduced from Rs 2,812.50 to Rs 1,085.93 for 60 tablets; Enuta, from Rs 6,578.20 to Rs 2,232 for 28 capsules; and Erlib, from Rs 4,637.45 to Rs 2,008 for a bottle containing 30 tablets.
The price of Het ero Healthcare’s Fludanox injection has been reduced from Rs 14,235 to Rs 2,432, while RPG Life Sciences’ Fulbreca injection has been repriced from Rs 26,072.16 to Rs 5,491.
The NPPA’s latest announcement follows its October 17 decision to implement Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs to curb excessive trade margins, improve affordability and expand access to cancer treatment.
The 137 medicines include immunotherapy drugs used to treat more than 20 types of cancer, denosumab for breast and prostate cancer patients, pegfilgrastim to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients, and bevacizumab, which is approved for treating colon, ovarian and cervical cancers.
Following the TMR decision, manufacturers were directed to submit their revised price lists to the NPPA. The authority has made the list of 543 brands available through its portal, which will continue to be updated as further price information is received.
