In a major relief to thousands of patients and families battling cancer, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has announced a significant reduction in the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines.
The revised pricing structure will come into effect on November 9, 2026.
Tapping the Brakes on Excessive Margins
The announcement follows the NPPA’s landmark notification on October 17, 2026, which implemented Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) across 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. Introduced in public interest, TMR caps excessive markups across distribution channels to make life-saving therapies significantly more affordable and accessible nationwide.
The rationalized list includes advanced treatments such as:
- Immunotherapy drugs used across 20+ cancer types.
- Denosumab, critical for breast and prostate cancer care.
- Pegfilgrastim, vital for managing neutropenia in chemotherapy patients.
- Bevacizumab, targeted for colon, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
Massive Price Reductions at a Glance
For several vital medications, the revised MRPs represent price drops of over 80%. Here is a breakdown of select key brand price revisions:
| Company Name | Drug Name & Form | Brand Name | Pack Size | Pre-Revised MRP (₹) | Revised MRP (₹) | Price Drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPG Life Sciences Ltd | Anastrozole (1 MG Tablet) | ANARZOLE | 10 tabs | ₹695.76 | ₹73.00 | ~89.5% |
| Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories | Azacitidine (100 MG Inj.) | Azacytin | 1 vial | ₹6,337.00 | ₹1,495.04 | ~76.4% |
| Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. | Bevacizumab (100 mg/4 ml Inj.) | BEVACIZAB | 4 ml vial | ₹21,767.70 | ₹5,930.13 | ~72.8% |
| RPG Life Sciences Ltd | Denosumab (60 MG Inj.) | Debrumab | 1 ml PFS | ₹22,031.25 | ₹5,941.00 | ~73.0% |
| RPG Life Sciences Ltd | Fulvestrant (50 MG Inj.) | Fulbreca | 5 ml vial | ₹26,072.16 | ₹5,491.00 | ~78.9% |
| Hetero Healthcare Ltd | Fludarabine (50 MG Inj.) | FLUDANOX | 1 vial | ₹14,235.00 | ₹2,432.00 | ~82.9% |
| Natco Pharma Ltd | Dasatinib (20 MG Tablet) | Dasanat 20 | 60 tabs | ₹2,812.50 | ₹1,085.93 | ~61.4% |
| RPG Life Sciences Ltd | Enzalutamide (40 MG Cap.) | Enuta | 28 caps | ₹6,578.20 | ₹2,232.00 | ~66.1% |
| Neon Laboratories Ltd | Erlotinib (150 MG Tablet) | ERLIB | 30 tabs | ₹4,637.45 | ₹2,008.00 | ~56.7% |
A Continual Update Model
The NPPA noted that the published list incorporates pricing filings received from pharmaceutical companies through October 27, 2026. The portal will continue to be updated dynamically on a continual basis as manufacturers finalize and submit revised figures for additional non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.
With cancer care imposing steep out-of-pocket costs on households, this policy intervention marks a decisive step toward curbing financial toxicity and widening patient access to essential treatments across India.
