NPPA Caps Trade Margins on 137 Cancer Drugs to Cut Prices by 70%

Q: 1. What is Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR)?

TMR limits the profit margins that distributors, stockists, and hospital pharmacies can charge, lowering retail costs without harming core manufacturing viability.

Q: 2. When do the revised anti-cancer drug prices take effect?

All pharmacies, hospitals, and retailers must implement the capped prices starting November 9, 2026.

Q: 3. How much will cancer patients save on these 137 drugs?

Maximum Retail Prices (MRPs) will drop by up to 70%, depending on existing brand markups.

Q: 4. Which popular cancer drugs are covered under the new price cap?

Key drugs include Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab, Osimertinib, Bevacizumab, Denosumab, and Pegfilgrastim.

Q: 5. Where can patients check the revised prices of cancer medicines?

Patients can look up updated prices on the official NPPA website or via the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile app.

Updated: 19 Oct 2026

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NPPA Caps Trade Margins on 137 Cancer Drugs to Cut Prices by 70%

National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has implemented Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. Operating under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the pricing regulator issued the official Gazette notification on October 17, 2026.

The policy intervention caps trade margins at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013. This move will slash retail prices of critical oncology medicines by up to 70%, taking effect on November 9, 2026.

Targeted Life-Saving Cancer Therapies

The price cap applies to advanced targeted therapies, biologicals, and immunotherapies treating over 20 distinct cancer types.

An expert committee under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)—comprising top oncologists, hospital directors, and health officials—recommended the final list of 137 molecules.

Key Included Medicines & Indications:

Pembrolizumab & Durvalumab: High-cost immunotherapies for lung, bladder, and solid tumors.
Osimertinib: Targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer.
Bevacizumab: Monoclonal antibody for colorectal, cervical, and ovarian cancers.
Denosumab: Manages bone complications in breast and prostate cancers.
Pegfilgrastim: Prevents severe neutropenia (low white blood cells) during chemotherapy.

Building on the 2019 Landmark Price Pilot

This initiative expands NPPA's 2019 TMR pilot project, which capped trade margins at 30% across 42 anti-cancer drugs. That earlier action reduced the MRPs of 526 commercial brands by up to 90%, generating hundreds of crores in savings for cancer patients.

TMR Phase	Total Covered Drugs	Maximum MRP Cut	Statutory Power Used
2019 Pilot Phase	42 Drugs (526 Brands)	Up to 90%	DPCO, 2013 (Paragraph 19)
2026 Expansion	137 Drugs	Up to 70%	DPCO, 2013 (Paragraph 19)

Strict Compliance Mandatory for Hospitals and Pharmacies

The NPPA has issued strict compliance mandates to prevent market distortion or artificial stock hoarding:

Manufacturer Filing: Drugmakers must submit revised price lists to the NPPA within 7 days of the notification and update their official websites.
Hospital & Retail Display: From November 9, 2026, all retail pharmacies, corporate hospitals, and nursing homes must sell the drugs at or below the revised MRPs and publicly display updated price sheets.
State Oversight: State Drug Controllers will conduct field inspections to enforce compliance across distribution chains.

How Patients Can Verify New Prices

Patients and caregivers can check updated prices and verify billing through the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile application and the official NPPA online portal.

The pricing authority also instructed manufacturers to maintain steady supply levels to ensure uninterrupted market availability across India.

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