Cancer drugs get cheaper from 9 November, saving patients ₹3,502 crore a year

Cancer patients will pay far less for dozens of widely used medicines from 9 November, when new price caps take effect on 137 anti-cancer drugs; the government estimates consumers will save ₹3,502.31 crore a year.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), part of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, capped trade margins on the maximum retail price (MRP) of the drugs. It acted on the recommendations of an expert committee set up by the Directorate General of Health Services on 17 October 2026.

What has changed so far

As of now, 76 pharmaceutical companies have reported revised MRPs for 1,225 anti-cancer formulations covering 121 drugs. Prices have fallen in 1,031 of those formulations. Among them, 600 brands show a cut of more than 50%, and the highest reduction is 96.45%.

Of the 137 drugs identified, 10 to 15 have not yet been launched in India. The release says Trade Margin Rationalisation will apply to them when they reach the market.

Some of the new prices

The release lists major brands with their old and revised MRPs. A few examples:

• Bevacizumab 100 mg injection (used for lung, colon, ovary and cervical cancer): Zydus Lifesciences' Bryxta falls from ₹25,995 to ₹3,318.
• Abiraterone acetate 250 mg tablet (prostate cancer): Arvincare Pharma's Abirone falls from ₹41,250 to ₹3,218.23.
• Fulvestrant 250 mg injection (breast cancer): Eris Lifesciences' Fasnorm falls from ₹30,421.87 to ₹3,671.73.
• Pegfilgrastim 6 mg injection (to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients): Hetero Healthcare's Peg Filtero falls from ₹9,093 to ₹1,631.

What retailers and manufacturers must do

The NPPA notification, SO 5690(E) dated 17 October 2026, stays in force until further orders. Manufacturers can still take the annual price increase allowed under Paragraph 20(1) of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013, but only while keeping to the maximum permitted trade margin of 30%.

Every retailer, dealer, hospital and institution must prominently display the revised MRP list on its website and premises. State Drug Controllers will monitor compliance.

How to check a price or complain

Consumers can look up applicable prices on the Pharma Sahi Daam mobile app and the NPPA website, www.nppa.gov.in. Violations can be reported by email to monitoring-nppa@gov.in, on the helpline 1800-11-1255, or by post to the Deputy Director, Monitoring, NPPA, 3rd Floor, YMCA Cultural Centre Building, 1 Jai Singh Marg, New Delhi 110001.

The release calls the margin cap "an important step" to improve the affordability and accessibility of essential anti-cancer medicines. The ₹3,502.31 crore saving is the government's estimate; actual savings will depend on the prices companies finally report.

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Source: official release by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers : Department of Pharmaceuticals, issued through the Press Information Bureau, Government of India (07 NOV 2026 3:51PM by PIB Delhi). Read the full official text: Revised Prices of Anti-Cancer Medicines to Come into Effect from 9th November;.