CHENNAI: In a major step to make cancer cure affordable for patients and their families, the retail prices of several anti-cancer drugs, including commonly used chemotherapy injections for lung cancer treatment, have been slashed by up to 87% by the drug price control authority.After reviewing the data collected from drug manufacturers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority ’s May 15 memorandum has brought nine anti-cancer drugs in its price control framework. NPPA is an independent body of experts under the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers that monitors and controls drug prices in India.As per the revised order, the maximum retail price of chemotherapy injection pemetrexed (500mg), sold under the brand name Pemxcel and used to treat lung cancer, has come down from Rs 22,000 to Rs 2,800. A 100mg dose of the same injection will henceforth cost Rs 800 against Rs 7,700 now.The retail price of another common chemo drug, epirubicin (brand name Epichlor), will be Rs 276.8 for a 10mg injection against Rs 561 and Rs 960 for a 50mg injection against Rs 2,662.The price of erlotinib tablets, sold as Erlotaz, will cost Rs 1,840 for a pack of 10 of 100mg strength, against the old price of Rs 6,600, and Rs 2,400 for a 10-tablet pack of 150mg strength against the old price of Rs 8,800.Similarly, the price of everolimus (brand name Lanolimus) of strengths 0.25mg and 0.5mg have been brought down to Rs 406 and Rs 739 from Rs 726 and Rs 1,452, respectively.The price of leuprolide acetate hormonal therapy injection (brand name Leuprogon Depot), commonly administered to cancer patients, has come down to Rs 2,650 from Rs 3,990. “Most of these are commonly used in several cancer therapies. The cost cut will be extremely beneficial to patients, particularly those who spend out of their pocket,” said Apollo Specialty Hospital senior oncologist Dr T Raja.This is the second time that the NPPA has announced a price cut on anti-cancer drugs since March. In February, it invoked extraordinary powers in public interest under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30% through trade margin rationalisation. At least 72 formulations and more than 390 brands reduced costs following the order.Though major drug manufacturers did not comment on the ramifications of the price cut, health industry spokespersons said the companies have been asked not to cut down on production volumes.Patient groups and organisations are happy with the government order. “My doctor has told me that the reduction in medicine cost will bring down my chemo bills drastically. I will have to see my bills to know how much it will be,” said 56-year-old Arunachalam V, a banker. He has medical insurance but had exhausted the limit a few months ago after a surgery. “Any price cut is good for patients like me,” he said.