Cancer drug prices slashed across 543 brands; new rates effective November 9

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has mandated price reductions across 543 cancer drug brands, marking a major intervention aimed at improving affordability of oncology treatments for Indian patients. The price cuts, effective from November 9, represent one of the largest single-day reductions in anti-cancer medication costs in recent years.

Dr Reddy's Laboratories' Azacytin, a 100 mg azacitidine injection used in treating certain blood cancers, exemplifies the scale of the reductions. The drug's price has been cut to ₹1,495.04 per unit from ₹6,337, representing a 76 percent decrease. Similar substantial reductions are expected across other cancer therapeutics.

The move addresses long-standing concerns about the high cost of cancer treatments, which has forced many Indian patients to forgo therapy or exhaust savings to access life-saving medications. Oncologists and patient advocacy groups have welcomed the intervention, noting that affordability barriers often delay or prevent treatment initiation in a country where cancer incidence continues to rise.

The revised pricing is expected to benefit millions of patients across India's public and private healthcare systems. Pharmaceutical manufacturers have been given a transition period to implement the new rates, with retailers and hospitals required to update their inventories accordingly.