Relief from expensive treatment! Prices of cancer drugs to be reduced starting November 9..

According to an official release from the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 543 anti-cancer drugs across various brands, effective from November 9, 2026. The statement notes, “The revised price list incorporates information submitted by companies up to October 27. This list will be updated as manufacturers submit their revised prices for non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.”

Price revisions for 543 anti-cancer drugs
According to the release, the prices of several major anti-cancer brands are set to see significant reductions. Notably, on October 17, the NPPA announced that it would implement ‘Trade Margin Rationalization’ (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs in the public interest. The objective is to make cancer treatment more affordable and improve access to anti-cancer medications.

Manufacturers were directed to submit their revised price lists to the NPPA. According to reports, these 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs include: immunotherapy agents used in the treatment of over 20 types of cancer; ‘Denosumab,’ used by patients with breast and prostate cancer; ‘Pegfilgrastim,’ used to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients; and ‘Bevacizumab,’ which is approved for the treatment of colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers.

Savings of ₹2,500–3,500 crore
According to the NPPA, the Indian market for anti-cancer drugs comprises approximately 225 drugs and 500 formulations, with an annual market turnover of about ₹12,500 crore. A report by ‘Mint’ on October 27, citing two officials and a government document, indicates that following these price reductions... Patients will save between ₹2,500 crore and ₹3,500 crore annually in out-of-pocket expenses.

The most significant price reduction has been applied to ‘Thiotepa’—a chemotherapy injection used prior to stem cell transplants and in the treatment of bladder cancer. The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of a 100 mg vial of ‘Samtepa’ has been reduced by ₹72,921.53 (91.1%), bringing its price down from ₹80,071.86 to ₹7,150.33.

Furthermore, in terms of percentage, the breast cancer drug ‘Palbociclib’ has seen the largest decline—93.3%. The price of a 21-capsule pack of ‘Palbociclib’ (125 mg) has dropped from ₹40,421.33 to ₹2,720 (a reduction of ₹37,701.33).

The retail price of ‘Hertumab’—a formulation of the drug ‘Pertuzumab’ used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer—has been reduced by ₹64,358 per vial, bringing it down from ₹94,951 to ₹30,593.

The price of another brand of ‘Pertuzumab’, ‘Lupiher’ (420 mg), has been reduced by ₹46,161.65, bringing its price down from ₹83,520 to ₹37,358.35 per vial.

The Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 'Bevacizumab'—a biological therapy used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian tumors—has also been reduced. The price of the 'Ivzumab' 400 mg injection has been lowered by ₹56,340.12, bringing it down from ₹69,852.12 to ₹13,512.

Similarly, the price of 'Bevacizab' 400 mg has been reduced by ₹56,248.34, bringing its retail price down from ₹65,205.09 to ₹8,956.75.

The price of 'Cizumab' 400 mg has been reduced by ₹47,605, bringing it down from ₹57,816 to ₹10,211. The price of the 'Brcaone' 150 mg pack of Olaparib tablets—used for BRCA-mutated ovarian, breast, and pancreatic cancers—has been reduced by ₹34,790.37, bringing it down from ₹46,364.05 to ₹11,573.68.

Regarding the price of 'Peg L-Aparagin'—an injectable form of Pegaspargase used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia... A reduction of ₹34,079.12 has been implemented, bringing the price down from ₹41,845.97 to ₹7,766.85.

For metastatic prostate cancer, the price of Abiraterone acetate 250 mg tablets—sold under the brand name ‘Abirat’—has been reduced by ₹32,024.33. Consequently, the price for a bottle containing 120 tablets has decreased from ₹36,088.81 to ₹4,064.48.

As part of these price reductions, the MRP of Abbott Healthcare’s ‘Bevazicab’ (4 ml vial) has been lowered from ₹21,767.70 to ₹5,930.10. The price of ‘Fullbreca’ (5 ml vial) from RPG Life Sciences has decreased from ₹26,072.16 to ₹5,491.00.

The price of the ‘FLUDANOX’ vial from Hetero Healthcare has been reduced from ₹14,235.00 to ₹2,432.00. The price of ‘Debrumab’ 60 mg (1 ml PFS) from RPG Life Sciences has dropped from ₹22,031.25 to ₹5,941.00.

The price of ‘Enuta’ (a pack of 28 capsules) by RPG Life Sciences has been reduced from ₹6,578.20 to ₹2,232.00. According to an official release, the price of Azacitidine (1 pack) from Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has been lowered from ₹6,337 to ₹1,495, while the price of ‘Dasnat 20’ (a pack of 60 tablets) from Natco Pharma will now be ₹1,085.90, down from ₹2,812.50.

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