Budget 2026: Ibrutinib, Venetoclax, Ribociclib Now Duty-Free, Cancer Drugs Cheaper for Patients

This expanded outlay, including ₹4,821.21 crore for the Department of Health Research, represents a cumulative rise of over 194% compared to FY 2014–15, underscoring a sustained policy shift toward stronger infrastructure, research, and service delivery systems.

Biopharma Shakti: India’s Leap Toward High-Value Pharma

At the centre of the Budget’s healthcare-industrial strategy is Biopharma Shakti (Strategy for Healthcare Advancement through Knowledge, Technology and Innovation), backed by ₹10,000 crore over five years. The initiative aims to create a robust domestic ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars — therapies that are increasingly critical in managing cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other chronic conditions.

Key Budget Announcements for Biopharma :

• Launch of Biopharma SHAKTI , a dedicated national initiative with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crores over five years , aimed at strengthening India’s end -to-end ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars . The initiative is designed to support domestic development and manufacturing of high -value biopharmaceutical products and medicines , reduce import dependence, and enhance India’s competitiveness in global biologics supply chains.
• Expansion and strengthening of the Biopharma -focused network through the establishment of three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs) and the upgradation of seven existing NIPERs . This measure seeks to address the growing requirement for highly specialised human resources in biopharma research, development, manufacturing and regulation.
• Creation of a large -scale clinical research ecosystem , with a proposal to develop over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites across the country. This is expected to significantly improve India’s capacity to conduct advanced clinical trials for biologics and biosimilars, accelerating innovation, and positioning the country as a preferred global destination for ethical, high -quality, and efficient clinical trials.
• Strengthening of the regulatory framework for biologics , including enhanc ing the capacity of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) through the induction of specialised scientific and technical personnel. The focus is on improving regulatory efficiency, aligning approval timeframes with global standards, and enabling faster evaluation of complex biopharmaceutical products.

The move reflects India’s ambition to transition from a volume-driven generic drug exporter to a global biopharma manufacturing and innovation hub, while reducing import dependence and enhancing affordability of advanced therapies.

Drug Duty Exemptions: Immediate Relief for Patients

In a major patient-focused relief measure, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a full exemption of basic customs duty (BCD) on 17 life-saving drugs, many of them advanced cancer therapies, while extending duty-free personal import benefits to treatments for seven additional rare diseases.

Presenting her Budget, Sitharaman said the move is aimed at reducing the financial burden on families dependent on high-cost imported medicines. “To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, I propose to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs or medicines,” she stated during her speech.

Cancer Drugs Covered

The exemption applies to targeted therapies and immunotherapies used in difficult-to-treat cancers. The drugs include

1. Ribociclib

2. Abemaciclib

3. Talycabtagene autoleucel

4. Tremelimumab

5. Venetoclax

6. Ceritinib

7. Brigatinib

8. Darolutamide

9. Toripalimab

10. Serplulimab

11. Tislelizumab

12. Inotuzumab ozogamicin

13. Ponatinib

14. Ibrutinib

15. Dabrafenib

16. Trametinib

17. Ipilimumab

These medicines are typically used in conditions such as breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, and certain hematological malignancies. With this step, the total number of medicines enjoying BCD exemption rises to nearly 129 drugs.

Imported cancer drugs generally attract a 10% customs duty, while some life-saving drugs were earlier taxed at a concessional 5% rate, which has now been reduced to zero for the listed medicines.

Rare Diseases: Expanded Duty-Free Access

The Budget also adds seven rare diseases to the list eligible for duty-free personal imports of medicines, drugs, and Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs). These include:

Congenital Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycaemia (CHI)

Familial Homozygous Hypercholesterolaemia

Alpha-Mannosidosis

Primary Hyperoxaluria

Cystinosis

Hereditary Angioedema

Primary Immune Deficiency Disorders

All are covered under the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD), 2021. With this inclusion, 58 rare diseases now fall under the exemption framework.