NPPA Lists 1,366 Cancer Drug Brands Including Palbopro, Hertumab Under 30% Trade Margin Cap
New Delhi: The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has listed 1366 anti-cancer drug brands for a 30% trade margin cap, scheduled to take effect on November 9,2026.
Its initial list, issued on October 27, covered 543 brands and was followed by three further revisions based on information submitted by pharmaceutical companies, largely involving branded generics and patented medicines.
Earlier, the Medical Dialogues team had reported that the NPPA had capped trade margins on 137 identified non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30%, with revised maximum retail prices (MRPs) set to take effect from November 9, 2026. The intervention was expected to reduce prices by up to 70%, depending on existing price structures, offering relief to cancer patients and their families.
According to a recent media report by ETPharma, the authority announced its trade margin rationalisation exercise for anti-cancer medicines on October 17, estimating annual savings of ₹2,500 crore for cancer patients.
The pricing initiative follows a series of Supreme Court hearings on a petition seeking effective restrictions on excessive trade margins charged by private hospitals. During the proceedings, the court described drug pricing as “loot and carnage.” Government representatives, meanwhile, submitted that regulating medicine prices requires a balancing of equities. The bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta has reserved its judgment.
Among the substantial reductions, Samtepa (thiotepa) injection is expected to become more than 90% cheaper, with its price falling from ₹80,072 to ₹7,150.
ETPharma reported that Hertumab (pertuzumab), a widely used breast cancer medicine, would be priced at ₹30,593 for a 14 mg vial, compared with ₹94,951 earlier. Palbopro (palbociclib) capsules would also see a reduction of approximately 93%, bringing the price down to ₹2,700 from around ₹40,000.
