New Delhi: The Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance has reduced the customs duty to nil on three anticancer drugs—Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab—through Notification No. 30/2024 dated 23rd July 2024. In addition, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on these drugs have been slashed from 12% to 5%, as per Notification No. 05/2024 dated 8th October 2024.
As per the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013 (DPCO), the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of drugs is inclusive of applicable taxes and duties. Consequently, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has directed manufacturers to revise MRPs to reflect the reduction in taxes, ensuring the benefit is passed on to consumers. Manufacturers have complied, filing revised price details with the NPPA.
Price Reductions Announced by AstraZeneca Pharma India Ltd:
The MRPs for several key anticancer drugs have been revised as follows:
Imfinzy (Durvalumab Injection):
120 mg Injection (2.4ML, 1 Vial): Previous MRP: ₹45,500/ Revised MRP: ₹40,790.96
500 mg Injection (10ML, 1 Vial): Previous MRP: ₹1,89,585/ Revised MRP: ₹1,71,324.27
Tagrisso (Osimertinib Tablets):
(A) *40 mg Tablets (10 units): Previous MRP: ₹1,50,154/ Revised MRP: ₹1,40,769.38
*The above drugs price reductions, as stated in a company letter dated 19th November 2024, result from the exemption of Basic Customs Duty (BCD). The revised prices will take effect as soon as the stock benefitting from the duty relief becomes available for commercial sale.
Tagrisso (Osimertinib Tablets):
(B) 80 mg Tablets (30 units): Previous MRP: ₹4,55,010/ Revised MRP: ₹4,16,492.48
(C) 80 mg Tablets (10 units): Previous MRP: ₹1,51,670/ Revised MRP: ₹1,38,830.83
Enhertu (Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Injection):
100 mg/5 ml Injection (1 Vial): Previous MRP: ₹1,87,000/ Revised MRP: ₹1,67,069.17
Regulatory Updates:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also implemented amendments to the Drugs Rules, 1945, requiring the top 300 brands of drug formulations listed under Schedule H2 to incorporate barcodes or QR codes on packaging for improved product authentication. This rule came into effect on 1st August 2023.
This information was presented in a written reply by Mrs. Anupriya Patel, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, in the Lok Sabha on Friday, 6th December 2024.
