The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has brought recombinant Human Insulin under price control and fixed its price at Rs 3331261/kg. Further, it has slashed the prices of 15 scheduled bulk drugs including derivatives under the provisions of DPCO, 1995.

Sources said the drug majors Wockhardt and Biocon are the two only manufacturers of recombinant Human Insulin and so far it was out of price control.

The notified price of bulk drug Sulphamethoxazole has been revised downwards from Rs 324/kg to Rs 323/kg as per a cost price study conducted by NPPA. This works out to a decrease of 0.31% in comparison to the earlier notified price. The notified prices of bulk drug Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and its derivative Vitamin B2 5 Phosphate have been revised downward from Rs 1525/kg to Rs 972/kg and Rs 2721/kg to Rs 2217/kg respectively. These prices were revised based on available information. This constitutes a reduction of 36.26% and 18.52%, compared to the earlier notified price.

The prices of bulk drug Cloxacillin Sodium (Oral) and Cloxacillin Sodium (Sterile) have been revised downward from Rs.1421/kg to Rs 1154/kg and Rs 1890/kg to Rs 1652/kg respectively. The consequential reduction in prices is 18.79% and 12.59% as compared to the earlier notified amounts.

Theophylline and Hydroxy Ethyl Theophylline (Etophylline) prices have been slashed from Rs 499/kg to Rs 439/kg and Rs 650/kg to Rs 511/kg respectively. The revised prices are lower by 12.02% and 21.38% when compared with the existing price.

The price of bulk drug Salbutamol Sulphate has been revised downward from Rs 5710/kg to Rs 4819/kg. The revised price is lower by 15.60% when compared with the existing price. The prices of bulk drugs Vitamin C, Vitamin C (Coated) and Sodium Ascorbate have been reduced from Rs 479/kg to Rs 396/kg, Rs 477/kg to Rs 382/kg and from Rs 525/kg to Rs 412/kg respectively. These revised prices are lower by 17.33%, 19.92% and 21.52% when compared with the existing prices.

The price of bulk drugs Pyrantal Pamoate has been revised downward from Rs 1361/kg to Rs 1204/kg. The revised price is 11.5% lower than the existing notified price.

The prices of bulk drugs Betamethasone Alcohol, Betamethasone Valerate and Betamethasone Di-Sodium Phosphate has been revised down ward from Rs 221/gm, Rs 210/gm and Rs 176/gm to Rs 220/gm, Rs 209/gm and Rs 175/gm respectively. The prices have been reduced by 0.45%, 0.48% and 0.57% when compared with the existing price. The change in price was effected due to change in the rate of Corporate Tax.

The revised notified prices shall become effective within 15 days from the date of notification in the Official Gazette, informed an NPPA release.