Almost 90% cut in prices of nine anti-cancer drugs
Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:19.05.2019
In a major step to make cancer cure affordable for patients and their families, the retail prices of nine anti-cancer drugs, including commonly used chemotherapy injections to treat lung cancer, have been slashed by up to 87% by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
As per the revised order, the maximum retail price of chemotherapy injection pemetrexed (500mg), sold under the brand name Pemxcel and used to treat lung cancer, has come down from ₹22,000 to ₹2,800. A 100mg dose of the same injection will henceforth cost ₹800 against ₹7,700. The retail price of another common chemo drug, epirubicin (brand name Epichlor), will be ₹276.8 for a 10mg injection against ₹561 and ₹960 for a 50mg injection against ₹2,662.
The price of erlotinib tablets, sold as Erlotaz, will cost ₹1,840 for a pack of 10 of 100mg strength, against the old price of ₹6,600, and ₹2,400 for a 10-tablet pack of 150mg strength against the old price of ₹8,800.
Similarly, the price of everolimus (brand name Lanolimus) of strengths 0.25mg and 0.5mg have been brought down to ₹406 and ₹739 from ₹726 and ₹1,452, respectively.
The price of leuprolide acetate hormonal therapy injection (brand name Leuprogon Depot), commonly administered to cancer patients, has come down to ₹2,650 from ₹3,990. “Most of these are commonly used in several cancer therapies. The cost cut will be extremely beneficial to patients, particularly those who spend out of their pocket,” said Apollo Speciality Hospital senior oncologist Dr T Raja.
NPPA is an independent body of experts under the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers that monitors and controls drug prices in India. This is the second time the NPPA has announced a price cut on anti-cancer drugs since March.
ANTI-CANCER DRUGS
‘Any price cut good as my chemo bill will come down’
In February, it invoked extraordinary powers in public interest under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 nonscheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30% through trade margin rationalisation.
At least 72 formulations and more than 390 brands reduced costs following the order.
Though major drug manufacturers did not comment on the ramifications of the price cut, health industry spokespersons said the companies have been asked not to cut down on production volumes.
Patient groups and organisations are happy with the government order. “My doctor has told me that the reduction in medicine cost will bring down my chemo bills drastically. I will have to see my bills to know how much it will be,” said 56-year-old Arunachalam V, a banker. He has medical insurance but had exhausted the limit a few months ago after a surgery. “Any price cut is good for patients like me,” he said.
Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com
Chennai:19.05.2019
In a major step to make cancer cure affordable for patients and their families, the retail prices of nine anti-cancer drugs, including commonly used chemotherapy injections to treat lung cancer, have been slashed by up to 87% by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.
As per the revised order, the maximum retail price of chemotherapy injection pemetrexed (500mg), sold under the brand name Pemxcel and used to treat lung cancer, has come down from ₹22,000 to ₹2,800. A 100mg dose of the same injection will henceforth cost ₹800 against ₹7,700. The retail price of another common chemo drug, epirubicin (brand name Epichlor), will be ₹276.8 for a 10mg injection against ₹561 and ₹960 for a 50mg injection against ₹2,662.
The price of erlotinib tablets, sold as Erlotaz, will cost ₹1,840 for a pack of 10 of 100mg strength, against the old price of ₹6,600, and ₹2,400 for a 10-tablet pack of 150mg strength against the old price of ₹8,800.
Similarly, the price of everolimus (brand name Lanolimus) of strengths 0.25mg and 0.5mg have been brought down to ₹406 and ₹739 from ₹726 and ₹1,452, respectively.
The price of leuprolide acetate hormonal therapy injection (brand name Leuprogon Depot), commonly administered to cancer patients, has come down to ₹2,650 from ₹3,990. “Most of these are commonly used in several cancer therapies. The cost cut will be extremely beneficial to patients, particularly those who spend out of their pocket,” said Apollo Speciality Hospital senior oncologist Dr T Raja.
NPPA is an independent body of experts under the Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers that monitors and controls drug prices in India. This is the second time the NPPA has announced a price cut on anti-cancer drugs since March.
‘Any price cut good as my chemo bill will come down’
In February, it invoked extraordinary powers in public interest under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 to bring 42 nonscheduled anti-cancer drugs under price control, capping trade margin at 30% through trade margin rationalisation.
At least 72 formulations and more than 390 brands reduced costs following the order.
Though major drug manufacturers did not comment on the ramifications of the price cut, health industry spokespersons said the companies have been asked not to cut down on production volumes.
Patient groups and organisations are happy with the government order. “My doctor has told me that the reduction in medicine cost will bring down my chemo bills drastically. I will have to see my bills to know how much it will be,” said 56-year-old Arunachalam V, a banker. He has medical insurance but had exhausted the limit a few months ago after a surgery. “Any price cut is good for patients like me,” he said.
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