Cancer Drug Prices Slashed: New Rates Effective November 9

The central government has announced significant price reductions for 543 brands of anti-cancer medicines across India. The revised prices will take effect on November 9, 2026, and some medicines will cost over 90 per cent less than before. This move aims to make essential cancer treatments more affordable for patients. However, the price cuts will not cover every cancer medicine. Several expensive drugs will continue to sell at their existing listed prices.

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Cancer Drug Price Cuts: Medicines That Will Become Cheaper

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has published a revised list of medicine prices based on information submitted by pharmaceutical companies until October 27. The list covers tablets, capsules and injections used to treat different types of cancer. Some brands have recorded substantial reductions in their maximum retail prices (MRPs). For example, Palbopro, a palbociclib-based medicine used for certain breast cancers, will now cost Rs 2,720 for 21 capsules of 125 mg, down from Rs 40,421.33.

Several other cancer medicines will also become significantly cheaper under the revised pricing list. Samtepa, a 100 mg thiotepa injection, will cost Rs 7,150.33 instead of Rs 80,071.86. Similarly, the price of Anarzole, used for hormone-sensitive breast cancer, will fall from Rs 695.76 to Rs 73 for the specified pack. Azacytin will cost Rs 1,495.04, compared with its previous price of Rs 6,337. The revised list also includes medicines such as bevacizumab, dasatinib, abiraterone and enzalutamide.

However, patients will not receive the same level of relief across all cancer treatments. The prices of several high-cost medicines, including Tagrisso, Alecensa, Keytruda and Imjudo, will remain unchanged in the listed formulations. For instance, a 100 mg vial of Keytruda will continue to cost Rs 2,16,500, while the listed pack of Tagrisso will remain priced at Rs 4.16 lakh. Other expensive medicines, including Koselugo and Tibsovo, will also retain their listed prices. Actual prices may vary depending on the dosage and pack size.

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Why Are Cancer Medicine Prices Falling?

The latest reductions follow the Centre’s October 17 decision to regulate trade margins on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines. Under this measure, the NPPA capped trade margins at 30 per cent of the maximum retail price, excluding GST. Trade margins represent the difference between the price at which manufacturers sell medicines to distributors and the retail price paid by patients. By limiting these margins, the government aims to control excessive mark-ups across the medicine supply chain and improve access to cancer treatment.

The revised prices will become effective nationwide on November 9, 2026. The government has directed pharmaceutical companies to publish the updated MRPs on their websites and inform retailers and hospitals about the changes. Medical institutions must also ensure that they apply the revised prices. The NPPA will update the list as manufacturers submit additional information. These measures could provide substantial financial relief to many cancer patients, although the unchanged prices of several costly medicines mean that treatment expenses will remain high for some families.

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