Lupin Limited, India''''''''s largest producer of anti TB drugs in the country, may appeal against the recent cut in the price of rifampicin. In a notification issued by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), there is about 20 per cent cut in the price of rifampicin 150mg + isoniazid 75mg tablet from Rs 13.26 to Rs 10.58. It has also reduced the price of rifampicin 60 mg + isoniazid 30mg tablet from Rs 6.57 to Rs 5.22, a decrease of 20.55 per cent.

Since most of Lupin''''''''s anti-TB products are covered by DPCO, this notification does not have significant adverse implications, the company claimed in a release issued here.

Furthermore, Lupin''''''''s business being spread across several therapeutic groups and markets, the actual impact of the new notification is statistically not significant.

In fact, the company estimates that the impact would be to the order of less than 0.5% of Lupin Ltd''''''''s turnover. The company had factored the cut in its prices almost six months back, a senior official said adding, if the NPPA were to cut the prices by another 20 per cent, Lupin would stop manufacturing rifampicin formulations altogether.

"Nevertheless, such notifications are contrary to the national priority for tuberculosis, which calls for investments in patient education, reach of therapies and creating infrastructure and research," the company said in a statement.