In an effort to control the "unjustified price hike" for certain drugs in the past few years, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has fixed prices for 11 non-scheduled formulations including products from Ranbaxy, Dr Reddy's and Glaxo Smithkline Pharmaceuticals.

The authority, using its powers delegated under sub-para (b) of Para 10 and 11 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995 vide S.O. No. 637(E) dated 4th September 1997, has asked 11 companies, which had increased the prices by more than 20 per cent with an year's time, to reduce the prices within 15 days from notification. The authority issued the notification on August 1, 2007.

The formulations, which are brought under price control, includes 10's strip of Relent from Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Cilanem injection 500mg and Caverta 50mg tablet manufactured by Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, Tenovate GN cream from GlaxoSmithkline Pharmaceuticals Ltd (GSK Pharma), Envas 2.5mg and 5mg tablets from Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Walamycin Suspension 30ml of Wallace Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd etc.

NPPA, through its notification, has also controlled the price of Vozet 5mg manufactured by UCB India Pvt Ltd and marketed by GSK Pharma, Remistar-A 2.5mg tablet manufactured by Mepro Pharmaceuticals (P) Ltd and marketed by Lupin Laboratories Ltd, Lacrigel 5gm manufactured by Deepti Care Health Pvt Ltd and marketed by Sunways (India) Pvt. Ltd and PNV tablet 25mg manufactured by Yash Pharma Ltd.

The NPPA, with its latest action on 11 formulations, has brought prices of 20 more drugs under control using its powers delegated under Para 10 (b).