The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has published revised maximum retail prices for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines, with the new prices taking effect on 9 November 2026. The list reflects information submitted by pharmaceutical companies up to 27 October and will be updated as manufacturers report revised prices for additional non-scheduled products, according to a PIB release dated 28 October.
The publication follows NPPA's 17 October decision to rationalise trade margins for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. The authority said the intervention is intended to address high trade margins, improve affordability and widen access to treatment.
Published reductions vary by medicine and pack
The release gave examples across tablets, capsules and injectable products. RPG Life Sciences' Anarzole, a pack of ten 1 mg anastrozole tablets, was listed with a revised MRP of ₹73 compared with ₹695.76 earlier.
Dr. Reddy's Azacytin 100 mg injection was shown at ₹1,495.04, down from ₹6,337. Abbott Healthcare's Bevacizab 100 mg/4 ml injection was listed at ₹5,930.13 compared with ₹21,767.70. These are product-specific examples and should not be applied to different strengths, brands or pack sizes.
List covers 137 non-scheduled drugs
The trade-margin policy covers 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, including immunotherapies used across more than 20 cancer types. The release also identified denosumab, pegfilgrastim and bevacizumab among the medicines within scope.
Non-scheduled status distinguishes these products from medicines already governed by scheduled-price controls. NPPA instructed manufacturers to submit revised lists, which produced the initial set of 543 branded products now published.
The brand count is larger than the number of drug substances because multiple manufacturers, strengths, dosage forms and pack configurations may exist for a medicine. Buyers should therefore use the complete product identifiers rather than comparing drug names alone.
Updates will continue after the effective date
NPPA said its portal will be updated continually as companies submit revised prices. The 9 November effective date applies to the revised MRPs in the published list, while later additions will depend on further manufacturer submissions and regulatory updates.
For distributors, hospitals and pharmacies, implementation requires matching the exact company, drug, strength, dosage form, brand and pack size. Inventory labels and billing systems will need to reflect the applicable notified MRP.
The release lists maximum retail prices, not procurement prices or patient-specific treatment costs. Final treatment expenditure also depends on prescribed dosage, duration, administration and other clinical services outside the published brand MRP.
Key numbers
- Brands in the initial revised list: 543
- Drugs covered by trade-margin rationalisation: 137
- Effective date: 9 November 2026
- Company information cut-off: 27 October 2026
- Cancer types cited for included immunotherapies: more than 20
What boards and CFOs should note
- Which products, strengths and pack sizes in the portfolio match the published list exactly?
- What inventory, channel-credit and billing adjustments are required before the effective date?
- How will continuing additions to the NPPA list be monitored across distributors and institutional customers?
Source: PIB, 28 October 2026. This is a summary of an official release, published as general information. It is not medical, legal, tax or investment advice.
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