After a cap on the prices of 42 anti-cancer drugs last month, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) said the prices of 390 drug brands have shown a downward movement. But a cursory analysis of the list revealed that many drug brands, including those costing over a lakh, continue to remain expensive.

For example, Crizotinib, manufactured by Pfizer under Crizalk brand and used to treat lung cancer, remains costly and has not shown much downward movement. Crizalk’s 200 mg capsules, which earlier were priced at ₹1,06,698 for a box of 60 capsules, now cost ₹1,00,177 after a reduction of 6.11 per cent, arrived at using a formula devised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP).

The revised prices will come into effect from March 8, a press note issued by the DoP said.

On February 27, NPPA had put 42 anti-cancer drugs under 30 per cent trade margin cap, which means that the pharmaceutical company which is the supplier cannot print the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in excess of 30 per cent of the price at which it supplies drugs to wholesalers, hospitals or retailers. In the past, instances of charging over 1000 per cent margin have come to fore leading to patients paying a heavy price for drugs and consumables.

“Manufacturers and hospitals were directed to convey revised MRP, to be effective from March 8, based on the Trade Margin (TM) formula. 390 brands i.e. 91 per cent of the 426 brands reported by manufacturers, showed downward price movement,” the press note said.

In 107 brands, MRP reduction was below 25 per cent, in 121 brands MRP reduction was between 25 per cent and 50 per cent, in 124 brands the price reduction was between 50 per cent and 75 per cent and in 38 brands, price reduction is above 75 per cent, as compared to how they were priced previously.

The revised prices will have to be displayed conspicuously on walls of hospitals which often buy directly in bulk from pharmaceutical companies and in shops of retail chemists, a notification issued by NPPA has mandated.

The average out-of-pocket expenditure for cancer patients is 2.5 times more than those suffering from other diseases. “This move is expected to benefit 22 lakh cancer patients in the country and would result in annual savings of approximately ₹800 crore to the consumers,” claimed DoP.

The TM rationalisation for 42 anti-cancer drugs was rolled out as Proof of Concept, stressing on the new paradigm of self-regulation by the industry. The manufacturers of these 42 drugs, be it standalone or mixed formulations which currently brings 426 brands under their umbrella, have been directed not to reduce production volumes of brands under regulation, said the note.