Cancer drugs up to 93% cheaper: New MRPs expose huge margins by hospitals

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised the maximum retail prices (MRPs) of 543 cancer drug brands and pack sizes, with reductions of over 90% reported for certain generic and biosimilar products. However, some costly originator medicines, including the immunotherapy Keytruda, remain unchanged in price, highlighting the limitations of the latest regulatory intervention. The revised prices are scheduled to take effect on November 9, following a decision to cap trade margins at 30% of MRP for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.

Key Details of the Price Revisions

• Substantial Reductions: Brands such as Palbopro (palbociclib 125 mg) dropped from Rs 40,421.33 to Rs 2,720, and SAMTEPA (thiotepa 100 mg) fell from Rs 80,071.86 to Rs 7,150.33 per vial.
• Unchanged Originator Drugs: Keytruda (pembrolizumab) remains priced at Rs 2,16,500, while other originator brands like Ribociclib, Tagrisso, Tecentriq, Darzalex, and Imfinzi show no change.
• Varying Impact: Reductions are not uniform across all brands of the same molecule; for instance, PALENO's 100 mg pack moved only marginally from Rs 5,717.81 to Rs 5,624.10.

Practical Implications and Context

The move follows wider scrutiny by the Supreme Court regarding high treatment costs and supply chain margins. Legal researchers and patient advocates, including representatives from Third World Network and the All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN), noted that while the cuts expose high historical margins, the exclusion of patient assistance programs and allowances for markups limit the overall relief for patients. Financial toxicity remains a significant barrier for families managing out-of-pocket expenses for cancer care, which often includes surgery, radiation, and diagnostics alongside medication.

Readers can verify the official announcements and updated lists directly through the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) portal.