The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has issued revised Maximum Retail Prices (MRP) of 543 Anti-Cancer medicine brands. This comes into effect from 9 November 2026.
As per the notification issued on 28 October, the revised price list includes submissions received from the manufacturers till 27 October, 2026. The price list will be regularly updated as revised prices are submitted by the manufacturers for non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines.
However, an updated compilation based on submissions received up to 28 October contained 643 product entries, according to a report by Medical Dialogues published on 29 October. The 543 and 643 figures represent different reporting snapshots, with the entries covering different brands, strengths, dosage forms and pack sizes.
This follows the NPPA issued a notification on 17 October, 2026 on Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) of 137 identified non-scheduled anti-ancer Drugs under paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.
Trade margin on these identified formulations has been capped at 30% for non-scheduled formulations of identified anti-cancer drugs. This will apply to non-scheduled formulations of patented drugs.
This is expected to help patients by reducing MRPs up to 70%.
The latest intervention builds on NPPA's 2019 pilot exercise, under which trade margins for 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs were capped at 30%. Following that exercise, the MRPs of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines were reduced by up to 90%, according to the government.
Multiple brands of anti-cancer drugs saw significant MRP reduction. Some of them are:
RPG Life Sciences: Fulbreca (5 ml vial): MRP reduced from ₹26,072.16 to ₹5,491.
Abbott Healthcare: BEVACIZAB (4ml vial): Reduced from ₹21,767.70 to ₹5,930.10.
RPG Life Sciences: Debrumab (60 mg, 1 ml pre-filled syringe): MRP reduced from ₹22,031.25 to ₹5,941.
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories: Azacytin (100 mg Injection): Reduced from ₹6,337 to ₹1,495.04.
Different brands, strengths, dosage form and pack sizes have been included in the new price list.
However, the price reductions were not uniform across all listed formulations. According to an analysis reported by The Indian Express on 29 October 2026, 146 of the 543 formulations showed no change in MRP, while another 21 recorded reductions of less than ₹100.
The revised MRPs will be effective throughout the country from 9 November, 2026. The manufacturers have to inform the retailers and hospitals about the new prices. Pharmacies and medical institutions have to charge patients the new price from the date of implementation.
Hospitals are also required to prominently display the revised prices on their websites. State Drug Controllers will monitor compliance among manufacturers, dealers, retailers, hospitals and medical institutions. Pharmaceutical companies have also been directed to maintain existing production and supply levels of the notified formulations to prevent artificial shortages and ensure uninterrupted access to medicines.
NPPA also mentioned that the list will be continuously updated as more manufacturers submit their prices. Patients and caregivers can view the new prices on NPPA official website and the Pharma Sahi Daam app.
This is a huge step taken by the regulators to ensure affordability of cancer treatment in the country. However, it depends on how well this is implemented, and there is compliance from the manufacturers.
Rh/MF/MSM