Cancer drugs to get cheaper in India from November 9: Complete list of 137 drugs and how much you can really save | Today’s news
Anti-cancer drugs are set to become cheaper in India from November 9. As many as 137 cancer drugs have been included in the Trade Margin Rationalization (TMR) in a bid to make the treatment more affordable, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said in a statement.
With the latest announcement, the prices of the drugs, which include immunotherapy drugs used to treat more than 20 types of cancer as well as breast, prostate, colon, ovarian and cervical cancer, will change from November 9.
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“The MRP of widely used anti-cancer drugs such as Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab and Osimertinib is expected to be more affordable for cancer patients,” the ministry said in a press release.
The latest decision follows price controls introduced in 2019 for 42 anti-cancer drugs, which cut prices by up to 90%.
India to cut cancer drug prices: How much can you save now?
The ministry said the intervention is expected to reduce the MRP of identified non-scheduled cancer drugs by up to 70 percent, depending on their existing pricing structure.
Trade margins on drugs will be limited to 30 percent of the maximum retail price, the ministry added.
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“The NPPA has restricted the trade margin to 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in accordance with Section 19 of the Price Control Ordinance (DPCO), 2013,” the ministry said, adding, “This measure is expected to bring significant relief to the many cancer patients and families who often face high financial burdens due to the high cost of treatment.”
The revised prices will take effect on November 9, 2026.
Price calculation:
Maximum Retail Price (MRP) = Trader Price/Distributor Price (PTS/PTD) x { 1 + (TM/ (100 − TM)) } + Applicable GST
Where TM = trade margin not exceeding 30
Where PTS/PTD = PTS/PTD for the month of March-2026
Example: For an unscheduled anticancer formulation:
Current MRP: ₹300 + applicable GST
The maximum permissible revised MRP as per the formula given in the official notification is:
₹70x{1+(30/(100−30))} = ₹100 + applicable GST
Read also | US FDA Approves Pancreatic Cancer Drug Rasonque: Here’s How Much It Will Cost
The full list of 137 cancer drugs that will be cheaper from November 9
According to the ministry, the 137 identified non-scheduled anticancer drugs include:
1. Immunotherapy drugs used to treat more than 20 types of cancer
2. Denosumab used by breast and prostate cancer patients
3. Pegfilgrastim used to prevent neutropenia in cancer patients
4. Bevacizumab, an approved drug for the treatment of colon, ovarian and cervical cancer.
Sr. Good.The name of the medicineSr. Good.The name of the medicine1Abemaciclib70Lenvatinib2Abiraterone acetate71Lomustine3acalabrutinib72Lorlatinib4Afatinib73Lymphoseek kit5Alectinib74Megestrol6Alpelisib75Midostrurin7amivantamab76Mirvetuximab soravtansin8Anastrazole77Mitomycin9Apalutami78mitoxantrone10asciminib79Nonsense11atezolizumab80Netupitant12avelumab81Nilotinib13Axitinib82Nimotuzumab14azacitidine83Nintedanib15Belantamab Mafodotin84Niraparib16bevacizumab85nivolumab17Slow down86obinutuzumab18Brentuximab vedotin87ofatumumab19Brigatinib88Take it20busulfan89osimertinib21Cabazitaxel90Palbociclib22Cabozantinib (S) – maleate91Panitumumab (Vectibix)23Capmatinib92Pazopanib (as hydrochloride)24Carfilzomib93pegasparginase25carmustine94Pegfilgrastim26Ceritinib95Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2B27cetuximab96pembrolizumab28cladribine97pemetrexed29clofarabine98pertuzumab30Crizotinib99Pertuzumab + trastuzumab31Cytarabine100Plerixafor32dabrafenib101Polatuzumab Vedotin33dacomitinib102Pomalidomide34daratumumab103Ramucirumab35darolutamide104regorafenib36dasatinib105Relugolix37Datopotamab Deruxtecan106Ribociclib38Decitabine107Rucaparib39Degarelix108ruxolitinib40denosumab109Selpercatinib41dostarlimab110selumetinib42Durvalumab111Serplulimab43elranatamab112Sotorasib44Enfortumab vedotin113sunitinib45Entrectinib114Talquetamab46Enzalutamide115Teclistamab47epirubicin116Tegafur + uracil48Erdafitinib117Tegafur, Gimeracil and Oteracil49Eribulin mesylate118Temsirolimus50Erlotinib119Tepotinib51Estramustine120Thiotepa52Everolimus121Tislelizumab53Exemestane122tocilizumab54fludarabine123topotecan55Fulvestrant124toripalimab56Gilteritinib125Trabectedin57Goserelin acetate126trametinib58Ibritumomab127tremelimumab59Ibrutinib128treosulfan60Ideally129Trifluridine + Tipiracil61Ifosfamide & Mesna130Triptorelin62Nivolumab and Relatimab131Tucatinib63Pegylated liposomal irinotecan132vemurafenib64Inotuzumab ozogamicin133Venetoclax65Interferon Alpha 2B134Vinorelbine tartrate66ipilimumab135vorasidenib67Ivosidenib136zanubrutinib68Lapatanib137zolbetuximab69Lazertinib
The ministry said the TMR measures for cancer drugs are aimed at controlling excessive trade margins in the distribution and retail channel while protecting the legitimate income of manufacturers and preventing artificial shortages in the market.
Pharmaceutical companies will need to maintain current levels of production and supply for notified formulations to ensure timely and uninterrupted access for patients.
Government guidelines for sellers and buyers: How to check revised prices
In a directive to sellers and buyers of these anti-cancer drugs, the ministry said:
1. All manufacturers will be required to inform the NPPA of their revised prices within 7 days of publication of the Gazette notice.
2. Manufacturers will be required to display price lists on their websites and widely disseminate them to all retailers and hospitals.
3. Effective November 9, 2026, all retailers and hospitals will charge the reduced prices and display the revised prices in their pharmacies.
4. Hospitals also display revised prices prominently on their websites.
5. Consumers can use Pharma Sahi Daam app and NPPA website to check revised drug prices.
