AstraZeneca Faces NPPA Heat Over Symbicort Pricing, Slapped Rs 60 Crore Showcause Notice
New Delhi: AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited has received a show cause notice from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), which has raised a demand of Rs 60.49 crore plus interest over alleged overcharging on its asthma drug, Symbicort Turbuhaler.
In a filing dated September 12, 2025, to BSE and NSE, the company stated, “Pursuant to Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, we would like to inform that AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited (‘the Company’) has received a Show Cause Notice from National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India on September 11, 2025.”
According to the annexure submitted along with the disclosure, NPPA, in its notice, has alleged that the company “has overcharged for batches of ‘Symbicort Turbuhaler’ Inhalation Powder, 60 Doses each, by marketing or manufacturing them at prices above the notified ceiling price subsequent to the relevant price notifications issued for the period from April 2016 to July 2025.”
The company has been given 30 days to submit its response to these allegations.
On the financial impact, AstraZeneca said, “The expected overall financial implication cannot be determined at this stage. The quantum of implication as per the notice is Rs. 60,49,79,385/- (Rupees Sixty Crore Forty Nine Lakh Seventy Nine Thousand Three Hundred and Eighty Five only) plus interest, which the Company disputes.”
The company clarified that no litigation has been filed in any court or tribunal yet, as this is at the show cause stage.
