The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has capped the trade margin on 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). Trade margin is the gap between the price at which the trade buys a medicine and its MRP. On 28 October 2026, NPPA published revised MRPs for 543 brands. These new prices apply from 9 November 2026, just five days away.
From 9 November, retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices and display the revised prices in their pharmacies. State Drug Controllers will enforce compliance by manufacturers, dealers (including retailers), hospitals and medical institutions.
This article gives you one practical checklist. It covers where to find the revised-MRP list, how the 30% margin works in rupees, what to do with old higher-MRP stock, and how to update your billing so no bill goes above the new MRP.
NPPA 30% Trade Margin Cap on Anti-Cancer Drugs: What Was Notified
On 17 October 2026, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) applied Trade Margin Rationalisation (TMR) to 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. Under this step, the trade margin is capped at 30% of the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). In simple words, the trade margin is the share of the MRP that goes to the supply chain, such as distributors and chemists. NPPA took this step under Paragraph 19 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO), 2013.
The cap was notified through a Gazette notification dated 17 October 2026. The government says this notification is available on the NPPA website. Pharma company pages and media reports give its order number as S.O. 5690(E), published in The Gazette of India, Extraordinary. This number is only reported, so please confirm it from the Gazette copy on the NPPA website before you quote it in letters or records.
Manufacturers had 7 days from the publication of the notification to report their revised prices to NPPA. The revised prices apply from 9 November 2026.
How much will prices fall?
The government expects the MRPs of these 137 drugs to fall by up to 70%. The actual cut depends on each drug's current price structure, so it will differ from brand to brand. The covered drugs include immunotherapy drugs, Denosumab, Pegfilgrastim and Bevacizumab.
This is not NPPA's first step of this kind. In 2019, a pilot capped trade margins at 30% on 42 anti-cancer drugs. After that pilot, the MRP of 526 brands of non-scheduled anti-cancer medicines fell by up to 90%.
NPPA Anti-Cancer Drugs Revised MRP List 2026: Where to Check and Download
On 28 October 2026, NPPA released a list of 543 anti-cancer brands with revised MRPs, effective 9 November 2026. This list covers the price information companies submitted up to 27 October 2026. NPPA has said it will keep updating the list on its portal as more revised prices come in.
Media reports say the list has since grown to 1,085 brands/packs, still effective 9 November. Treat this number as reported, not confirmed, because the list may change again. Do not rely on a copy you saved last week. Always check the latest version on the NPPA portal.
Where to check revised prices
- NPPA website: NPPA publishes the official revised-MRP list here.
- Pharma Sahi Daam app: You can search revised drug prices on your phone.
- Your suppliers: Manufacturers must show revised price lists on their websites and send them to all retailers and hospitals. Ask your distributor or company representative to give you their list in writing.
Official examples: old vs revised MRP
| Brand | Pack details | Old MRP | Revised MRP |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEVACIZAB | Bevacizumab 100 mg/4 ml, 4 ml vial | ₹21,767.70 | ₹5,930.13 |
| Fulbreca | Fulvestrant 50 mg, 5 ml vial | ₹26,072.16 | ₹5,491.00 |
| ANARZOLE | Anastrozole 1 mg, 10 tablets | ₹695.76 | ₹73.00 |
| Dasanat 20 | Dasatinib 20 mg, 60 tablets | ₹2,812.50 | ₹1,085.93 |
Check the portal regularly, both before and after 9 November. New entries are being added as companies submit prices. A brand missing today may appear tomorrow. If anything is unclear, confirm with NPPA, your State Drug Controller and your supplier.
How the 30% Trade Margin Cap Is Calculated: Worked Example on PTS/PTD
The steps below follow what secondary and media reports say about the formula. They are reported, not quoted from the Gazette. Details may change, so check the NPPA notification and your supplier's price list.
- Know the reported formula. Secondary reports give it as: MRP = PTS/PTD × {1 + [trade margin ÷ (100 − trade margin)]} + applicable GST. The trade margin can be at most 30. PTS/PTD means price to stockist or price to distributor.
- Understand the 42.86% mark-up. NPPA meeting minutes, as reported by media, say the 30% is worked out on MRP excluding GST. GST is the goods and services tax added on the bill. Since 30 ÷ 70 = 0.4286, this equals a mark-up of up to 42.86% on PTS/PTD.
- Try a hypothetical example. Say the PTS is ₹1,000. The maximum MRP excluding GST is ₹1,000 × {1 + [30 ÷ 70]} = ₹1,428.57. The total trade margin is ₹428.57, which is 30% of ₹1,428.57. Applicable GST is then added on top. Use the rate shown on your supplier's invoice.
- Remember it is one margin for the whole chain. The 30% covers the full trade chain, from the stockist/distributor price up to MRP. Distributors and retailers share it. So check how your PTR (price to retailer) and your own margin change, using the manufacturer's revised price list. A PTR / PTS calculator for pharma can help you check the rupee amounts.
- Note two reported special cases. Media report that for listed drugs launched after 31 March 2026, the current PTS/PTD is used. They also report that the cap does not apply to quantities supplied to individual patients under company-run Patient Assistance Programmes. Neither point is confirmed.
This is not legal advice. Confirm the method with NPPA, your State Drug Controller and your suppliers before you change any prices.
Old Higher-MRP Stock After 9 November 2026: What Chemists and Distributors Should Do
Many chemists and distributors will still hold anti-cancer stock with the old, higher MRP printed on the pack. Here is what the confirmed rules say, and what you still need to settle with your suppliers.
- Charge the revised MRP, not the printed one. From 9 November 2026, all retailers and hospitals must charge the reduced prices. The old MRP printed on the pack does not change what you are allowed to charge. If a pack shows the old price, bill it at the revised MRP.
- Display the revised prices. Retailers and hospitals must display the revised prices in their pharmacies. Hospitals must also display them prominently on their websites.
- Hospitals that buy directly are responsible too. Many anti-cancer drugs go directly from companies to hospitals and medical institutions. These buyers must apply the revised prices themselves from the start date. State Drug Controllers will enforce compliance by manufacturers, dealers (including retailers), hospitals and medical institutions.
- Know your exposure before 9 November. Make a batch-wise list of the affected brands. For each batch, note the old printed MRP and the quantity on hand. This shows how much stock is affected and where your margin may be hit.
- Get your supplier's policy in writing. The official announcement does not say whether old packs need relabelling or stickering. It also does not say whether you will get price-difference credit notes for stock bought at old rates. A credit note is a document that reduces the amount you owe the supplier. Ask your manufacturer or distributor for their written policy, and check with your State Drug Controller's office.
- Keep selling and restocking. Pharma companies must keep up their current production and supply so that patients are not left without medicine. Do not hold back sales or delay orders. Keep supplying patients at the revised MRP.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm the details with NPPA, your State Drug Controller and your suppliers.
Checklist: Update Item Master MRP, Purchase Rates and Margins in Billing Software
Your item master is the product list in your billing software, with each item's rates. Follow these five steps before and on 9 November 2026.
- Get the latest list. Download the revised-MRP list from the NPPA website, or check the Pharma Sahi Daam app. NPPA keeps updating its portal as companies send revised prices, so download the list again close to 9 November. Also ask each manufacturer for its revised price list. Match every brand, strength and pack in your item master against these lists.
- Update rates batch-wise. For each affected item and batch, change the MRP, PTR (price to retailer) and PTS (price to stockist) so the new rates apply from 9 November. Do not delete or overwrite old batch records. This keeps earlier bills and stock history correct.
- Check the margin impact. Run a batch-wise stock report of the affected brands. Value this stock at purchase rate and at the revised MRP. The gap shows your margin impact. Note down the points you need to discuss with suppliers.
- Test-bill on 9 November. Bill one item from each affected brand. Confirm the counter rate is not above the revised MRP. Then print or display the revised price list in your pharmacy, because retailers must display the revised prices.
- Check new purchase bills. Compare every new invoice with the revised PTS or PTR before you enter it.
Our pharma wholesaler and distributor software and pharmacy billing software with batch-wise MRP show MRP, PTR and PTS on every batch line. You can import purchase bills from Excel, CSV or PDF and set sale rates from margin. You can value stock at purchase rate, sale rate or MRP for any date. You also get margin and near-expiry warnings while billing, and you can make credit and debit notes. Always confirm the final rules with NPPA, your State Drug Controller and your suppliers.
Get Ready Before 9 November
The revised prices apply from 9 November 2026. Before that date, check the latest NPPA list, update your item masters and get your suppliers' revised price lists and old-stock policies in writing. The NPPA list keeps changing, so re-check the portal regularly and add new brands as they appear.
Any bill above the revised MRP is a compliance risk, and State Drug Controllers will enforce the new prices. Make a test bill before your first sale on 9 November. This article is general information, not legal advice, so confirm the details with NPPA, your State Drug Controller and your suppliers. If you would like to see ValueSoft for your pharmacy or distribution business, book a free demo on kalasoftech.com.
Frequently asked questions
Which 137 anti-cancer molecules come under the trade margin cap, and does it cover every strength and dosage form?
On 17 October 2026, NPPA capped the trade margin at 30% of MRP for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs under Paragraph 19 of DPCO, 2013. These include immunotherapy drugs, Denosumab, Pegfilgrastim and Bevacizumab, and the full list is in the Gazette notification on the NPPA website. To see whether a particular strength or pack is covered, check the brand-wise revised MRP list on the NPPA portal or the Pharma Sahi Daam app. NPPA keeps updating this list as companies submit more revised prices.
Do chemists or distributors need to relabel or put stickers on old anti-cancer drug stock?
The government's announcements on this cap do not mention relabelling or stickering. What they do require is that, from 9 November 2026, all retailers and hospitals charge the reduced prices and display the revised prices in their pharmacies. Hospitals must also display the revised prices prominently on their websites. For any labelling requirement, refer to the Gazette notification on the NPPA website.
Will the manufacturer give a credit note or price difference for stock I bought at the old rate?
NPPA's announcements do not say whether manufacturers will issue credit notes or pay price differences on stock bought at the old rate. They do require manufacturers to show revised price lists on their websites and send them widely to all retailers and hospitals. Retailers must still charge the reduced prices from 9 November 2026, whatever they paid for the stock. Settle any price-difference terms directly with your supplier.
What penalty or action can drug control officers take if a pharmacy sells above the revised MRP?
State Drug Controllers will enforce compliance by manufacturers, dealers (including retailers), hospitals and medical institutions. From 9 November 2026, every retailer and hospital must charge the reduced prices and display the revised prices. The government's announcements do not list specific penalty amounts, so check the Gazette notification on the NPPA website for details.
Sources
- Trade Margin Rationalisation on 137 Anti-Cancer Drugs
- Heterohealthcare
- NPPA releases Revised MRP for 543 brands of Anti-Cancer Medicines; List to be updated on continual basis; New Prices Effective from November 9, 2026
- NPPA Revises Prices of 1,085 Anti-Cancer Drugs
- NPPA: Trade margins capped at 30% on 137 anti-cancer drugs
- Centre Caps Trade Margins At 30% For 137 Non-Scheduled Cancer Drugs - BW Businessworld
This article is for general information. GST rules change from time to time: check the GST portal or ask your CA before acting on it.
