Get relief from expensive treatment! Cancer drug prices to come down from November 9, huge savings for patients due to massive reduction in MRP.

According to an official release of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of 543 anti-cancer drugs of various brands with effect from November 9, 2026. The statement said, “The information on the revised price list will be submitted by the manufacturing companies till October 7. The revised prices of their non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs.

543 Price changes of anti-cancer drugs

According to the release, the prices of several major anti-cancer brands are going to drop significantly. It may be noted that the NPPA had on October 17 said that it would implement ‘Trade Margin Rationalization’ (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs in public interest. It aims to make cancer treatment more affordable and improve access to anti-cancer drugs.

Producers were instructed to submit their revised list to NPPA. According to the report, these 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs include: immunotherapy drugs used in the treatment of more than 20 types of cancer; Denosumab, used by breast and prostate cancer patients; pegfilgrastim, used to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients; and ‘bevacizumab’ – which is approved for the treatment of colon, ovarian and cervical cancer.

2,500-3,500 crore savings

1. According to NPPA, the anti-cancer drug market in India consists of around 225 drugs and 500 formulations. Its annual market turnover is approximately Rs. 12,500 crores. Citing two officials and a government document, a Mint report on October 27 said the price cut would save patients Rs 2,500-3,500 crore annually in out-of-pocket costs.
2. The biggest reduction has been made in the price of ‘Theotepa’. This is a chemotherapy injection, used before stem cell transplants and in the treatment of bladder cancer. A 100 mg vial of Samtepa has an MRP of Rs. 72,921.53 (91.1%) decrease, bringing its value to Rs. 80,071.86 down to Rs. 7,150.33 has gone up.
3. Furthermore, in percentage terms, breast cancer drug ‘Palbociclib’ has seen the biggest reduction in price – 93.3%. Now a pack of 21 capsules of ‘Palbopro’ 125 mg capsules is priced at Rs. 40,421.33 to Rs. 2,720 (i.e. a difference of ₹ 37,701.33).
4. The retail price of ‘Pertuzumab’ formulation, which treats HER2-positive breast cancer, has come down from Rs 94,951 to Rs 30,593 to Rs 64,358 per vial.
5. Another brand of ‘Pertuzumab’, ‘Lupiher’ 420 mg has been slashed by Rs 46,161.65, bringing its price down from Rs 83,520 to Rs 37,358.35 per vial.
6. The MRP of ‘Bevacizumab’, a biologic therapy used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, cervical cancer and ovarian tumors, has also been reduced. The price of ‘Ivzumab’ 400 mg injection has come down by Rs 56,340.12, bringing it down from Rs 69,852.12 to Rs 13,512.
7. Similarly, the price of ‘Bevcizeb’ 400 mg has come down by Rs 56,248.34, bringing its retail price down to Rs 8,956.75 from Rs 65,205.09.
8. The price of ‘Cizumab’ 400 mg has been reduced by Rs 47,605 from Rs 57,816 to Rs 10,211. ‘Brcaone’ 150 mg pack of Olaparib tablets used in BRCA-mutated ovarian, breast and pancreatic cancer is priced at Rs. 34,790.37 has decreased, costing Rs. 46,364.05 to Rs. 11,573.68 has been done.
9. Peg L-Aparagine, a pegasparginase injectable drug used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is priced at Rs. 34,079.12 has been reduced, which is Rs. 41,845.97 down to Rs. 7,766.85 has been made.
10. For metastatic prostate cancer, the price of Abiraterone Acetate 250 mg tablet, sold under the brand name ‘Abirat’, is Rs. 32,024.33 has decreased. Because of this, the price of a bottle of 120 tablets has come down from Rs 36,088.81 to Rs 4,064.48.
11. As part of the price cut, the MRP of Abbott Healthcare’s ‘Bevazicub’ (4 ml vial) has also been reduced by Rs. 21,767.70 to Rs. 5,930.1 has been made. RPG Life Sciences’ ‘Fulbreka’ (5 ml vial) is priced at Rs. 26,072.16 down to Rs. 5,491 has been done.
12. The price of Hetero Healthcare’s ‘FLUDANOX’ vial has come down from Rs 14,235 to Rs 2,432. The price of RPG Life Sciences’ Dabrumab 60 mg (1 ml PFS) has come down to ₹ 5,941 from ₹ 22,031.25.
13. RPG Life Sciences’ Enuta (pack of 28 capsules) is priced at Rs. 6,578.20 to Rs. 2,232.0 has been made. According to the official release, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Azacetin (1 Pack) is priced at Rs. 6,337 to Rs. 1,495 and Natco Pharma’s Dasnat 20 (pack of 60 tablets) is now priced at Rs. 2,521 to Rs. 1,085.9 will be made.