India's NPPA slashes drug prices by as much as 87%

The retail price of nine anti cancer drugs have been slashed by up to 87% in India by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority. The nine drugs include chemotherapy injections to treat lung cancer, reports The Pharma Letter’s India correspondent.

Officials said at least 72 formulations and more than 390 brands have reduced costs following the order. The price cut is expected to benefit about 2.2 million cancer patients and will result in annual savings of around $114 million to patients.

This is the second time India's drug price regulator, the NPPA, has capped trade margins on anti cancer drugs. In March, rates were brought down for around 380 drugs, with some cuts going as much as 80%-90% under trade margin rationalization.