NPPA cuts prices of Aventis, Novartis drugs

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has cut the price of Aventis Pharma’s monocomponent insulin Lantus by 2.8% and Novartis’s Vitalux Plus TR tablets by 2.9%, an official close to the development said.

“The revised prices will be effective within 15 days,” the official said.

A 10 ml vial of Lantus 100 IU/ml will now cost Rs 2,370.49 instead of Rs 2,439.27.

Lantus is Aventis Pharma’s fastest growing drug and its sales have been growing at 33% per annum in India, according to a company spokesperson. Annual sales of Lantus are now worth Rs 50 crore. It was the first once-a-day form of insulin and its effect lasts 24 hours, making it a long acting drug.

The NPPA also reduced the price of Novartis’ Vitalux Plus TR tablets. A bottle containing 30 tablets of Novartis’ Vitalux Plus TR tablets will now cost Rs 252.57 instead of Rs 260.24, the official said.