The fresh price revision effected on 11 major antibiotics by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) would bring down the retail price of the dosage forms of these drugs to the range of 5 to 20 per cent.

As per the notification issued by the Authority, prices of 9 drugs namely Chloroquine Phosphate, Pentazocine, Procaine Penicillin G, Benzathine Penicillin G, Pyrantel Pamoate, Metronidazole Benzoate, Cefadroxyl, Monohydrate, Ranitidine Hydrochoride and Cefazoline Sodium have been revised on account of Customs Duty reduction announced in Union Budget 2003-04.

The Prices of bulk drugs Cefotaxime Sodium and Erythromycin and its derivatives have been revised after conducting the detailed cost price study based on the data of major manufacturers of these drugs. Downward revision in the prices of Vitamin E Acetate, Pentoxifylline, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B2-5 Phosphate have also been carried out based on the available data with NPPA.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority [NPPA] has revised the prices of 22 bulk drugs. Although 18 out of the 22 drug categories showed a downward revision in prices, drugs like Vitamin C and Sodium Ascorbate showed an upward revision in the prices.

Erythromycin Base ex-Fermentation prices showed an upward revision at Rs. 4,837 per kg compared to the previous Rs. 4,191. Erythromycin Base ex-TIOC prices stayed the same at Rs. 3,150 per kg. Erythromycin Estolate ex-Fermentation prices showed a downward revision at Rs. 3,529 compared to previous Rs. 4,090. Erythromycin Estolate ex-TIOC prices remained the same at Rs. 2,604. Erythromycin Stearate prices came down to Rs. 2,234 from Rs. 2,533. Erythromycin. Ethyl Succinate prices came down to Rs. 3,522 from the previous Rs. 4,626. Erythromycin Propionate prices remained the same at Rs. 3,601.

The downward price revision of Erythromycin and its derivatives would lead to slashing of retail prices of their formulation brands in the country. Currently, the leading Erythromycin Estolate brands are Althrocin from Alembic, priced at Rs. 19 for a strip of 10 tablets of 100 mg and E-Mycin from Themis, priced at Rs. 36 for a strip of 10 of 250 mg tablets. Erythrocin, the Erythromycin Stearate brand from Pharmacia is priced at Rs. 15.44 for a strip of 10 of 100 mg tablets. Erythrocin brand also comes in the dry syrup category priced at Rs. 17.82 for a 30 ml volume.

While commenting on the price slash on Erythromycin and its derivatives, Raj Kumar Baheti, vice president (finance), Alembic Limited, the largest Erythromycin producer and manufacturer of the leading brand Althrocin, said that the price revision is realistic as the NPPA has taken the correct feedback from the industry. "Though the profitability of the company would be affected a bit, we have to accept the reality and appreciate the government decision on this," he said.

However, there is an upward price revision in the case of Vitamin C (Plain), Vitamin C (Coated) and Sodium Ascorbate mainly due to increase in the prices of imported intermediate 2-Keto Gluconic Acid in the International market.

Responding to the NPPA revision, Karthikeya Sarabhai, chairman, Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises Limited, the largest manufacturer of Vitamin C in the country said the increase in Vitamin C prices was due since there was an unrealistic downward revision was effected in the previous revision. "Now, this is the right decision as it was expected with which we can be competitive in the market and the company can utilize the maximum capacity," he said.

But, the Vitamin B2 price has been slashed to Rs. 1,525 per kg from the previous level of Rs. 2,438. The common brands containing Vitamin B2 in them are Becosules [Pfizer], Surbex T [Pharmacia] and Supradyn [Piramal Health] priced all priced between Rs. 12-13 for a strip of 10 tablets. Becosules is also available as syrup priced at Rs. 11.16 for a 60 ml bottle.

Vitamin E Acetate prices have been reduced to Rs. 1,224 from Rs. 1,497. Major Vitamin E brands available in the market today are Evion [Merck] priced at Rs. 7.24 for a strip of 10 tablets of 100 mg. Supradyn and Pfizer's Protinex priced at Rs. 222 for a tin of 200 gm are the other brands that contain Vitamin E.

Vitamin C Plain prices have been raised to Rs. 557 from Rs. 423. Vitamin C coated prices have been raised to Rs. 556 from the previous Rs. 419. the leading Vitamin C brand in the country is Glaxosmithkline's Celin, priced at Rs. 8.16 for a strip of 10 tablets of 500 mg. Supradyn, Surbex T and Cobadex Forte are the other Vitamin C brands.

Sodium Ascorbate prices have been revised up to Rs. 607 from Rs. 446. This may result in the retail price increase of Pharmed's Citravite (priced at Rs. 14 at present) and IDPL's Suckee (priced at Rs. 10.35 for a strip of 10 tablets of 100 mg). Pentoxifylline price, which has been cut to Rs. 2,013 from Rs. 2,453 may force slight reduction in the retail price of Trental 400 of Aventis Pharma, which is the only Pentoxifylline brand available in the country priced at Rs. 30.45 for a strip of 10 tablets.

The other drugs those have been subjected to downward price revision are Cefazoline Sodium (from Rs. 13,250 to Rs. 13,133 per kg),. Azolin [Biochem] is priced at Rs. 35.76 for a 500 mg vial and Rs. 60 and Reflin [Ranbaxy] is priced at 16.38 for a 250 mg vial and Rs. 26.94 for a 500 mg vial.

Ranitidine Hcl prices have been nominally reduced to Rs. 1,045 from Rs. 1,054. Rantac [Unique], Zinetac [GSK] and Histac [Ranbaxy] are the major brands priced at about Rs. 7 for a strip of 10 tablets of 150 mg.

Cefadroxyl Monohydrate prices have been slashed to Rs. 4,692 from Rs. 4,732. Lydroxyl [Lyka Hetero] is priced at Rs. 29.24 for a strip of four of 250 mg. Lupin's Odoxil is priced at Rs. 33.52 for a strip of four.

Metronidazole Benzoate prices have been acutely slashed to Rs. 401 from Rs. 406. Metrogyl [Unique] has been priced at Rs. 3.64 for a strip of 10 tablets of 200 mg. Aristogyl [Aristo] has been priced the same.

Pyrantel Pamoate prices have been slashed to Rs. 1,388 from Rs. 1,393. Nemocid [Mexin] has been priced at Rs. 7.20 for a strip containing three tablets of 250 mg.

Procaine Penicillin G prices have been slashed to Rs. 1,390 per BU from Rs. 1,397. Bistrepen [Alembic] is priced at Rs. 8.42 for one dose vial and Rs. 28.97 for five dose vial.

Benzathine Penicillin G prices were slashed to Rs. 2,564 from Rs. 2,583. Pencom [Alembic], six lakh unit comprising of five vials is priced at Rs. 38.77, 1.2 million units of five vials is priced at Rs. 62.94. Penidure [Wyeth], LA12, vial is priced at Rs. 11.71 and LA 24, vial is priced at Rs. 18.81.

Pentazoine prices are slashed to Rs. 35,199 from Rs. 35,512. Pentawin [Biochem] injection is priced at Rs. 6.65 per ml injection. Fortwin [Ranbaxy] is priced at Rs. 5.56 per ml.

Chloroquine Phosphate prices have been cut to Rs. 776 per kg from the previous Rs. 790. Clo-Kit [Indoco] is priced at Rs. 7.64 per kit, Lariago [IPCA] is priced at Rs. 6.32 for 10 tablets of 155 mg. Emquine [Merck] is priced at Rs. 8.94 for 10 tablets of 155 mg.

The revised notified prices shall become effective within 15 days from the date of notification in the Official Gazette. All the manufacturers of the formulations utilizing the drug in their scheduled formulations are advised to follow the provisions of DPCO, 1995 with regard to pricing of the derivative formulations.