Price regulation of cancer drugs to save Rs 800 cr

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) on Friday announced a price regulation of 390 anti-cancer non-scheduled drugs by 87 per cent.The association had earlier regulated 42 anti-cancer drugs under 30 per cent trade margin cap, but with this move, it is being claimed that the out-pocket expenditure of more than 22 lakh cancer patients in the country will result in an annual savings of Rs 800 crore.Non-scheduled drugs are the ones sold over the counter. Scheduled drugs are identified based on their addictive nature, and can not be sold without prescriptions.A senior NPPA official said that the idea to regulate expensive cancer drugs was going on for some time. In a meeting on February 26, the decision was taken and the manufacturers were given time to calculate their profits and costs. The trade margin rationalisation was rolled out as a proof of concept.The announcement came a day after All India Drug Action Network (AIDAN) showed concern that the trade margin capping will lead to no reduction of MRP or only marginal reduction in the case of other drugs.The authority also announced that soon medicines for 38 rare disease will be brought under a pricing control. NPPA has, under control, 36 other medicines for cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, infection, pain, asthma, etc under the Drugs Control Act, 2013 (DPCO).Information was also sought from ten hospitals regarding the drugs. The medicines include Azacitidine, Bendamustine, Leuprolide, Pegfilgrastim, Triptorelin, etc. Thirty-eight brands will see a reduction of over 75 per cent, and 107 brands will see a below 25 per cent reduction, which means an overall reduction of 87 per cent on 390 brands.Cancer drugs are 2.5 times more expensive than regular drugs. For example, a 100 mg injection of Azacitidine (Azactiv brand) is for Rs 7,800, however, after the reduction, it will cost Rs 2,221.