In the first major suo moto price fixation exercise since the introduction of MRP linked excise duty assessment, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority is expected to announce price ceilings for more than 100 drug formulations based on bulk drugs like Erythromycin Estolate, Salbutamol & Pseudoephedrin, Pentazocine, Pyrantel Pamoate, Benzathine Penicillin G, Procain Penicillin G & Sodium Benzyl Penicillin G, Phenyl Butazone and Cefadroxyl Monohydrate.

The authority may fix, for the first time, the prices of Gaspaz -- XP tablet (Biological E Ltd), Sultax - 0.375 injection (IPCA Laboratories Ltd) and Rheolin Rheocaps 200 (Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd). An upward revision of prices for all kinds of Althrocin formulations (Alembic) like 100 mg, 250 mg & 500 mg, kid tablets, granules, liquid etc and Combiflam Paediatric Suspension (Aventis Pharma) and Proxytab tablets (Wockhardt) have also been considered, it is learnt.

IPCA Laboratories is likely to be the most affected due to the price fixation on Erythromycin Estolate formulations as the company will have to reduce the prices of its formulations like, Eltocin tablets, Eltocin DT kid tablets, Eltocin DS tablets, Eltocin dry syrup, Eltocin suspension, Eltocin BR tablets, etc. Other companies like Pharmacia Healthcare, Ind-Swift, Themis, Alkem and Dr Reddy's Laboratories are also into this segment.

The suo moto consideration of bulk drug Salbutamol & Pseudoephedrin will find companies like Aristo, Tablet India, Glenmark, Cipla, Pfizer, Elder Pharma, Kopran, Mac Lab, Sun Pharma, Nicholas Piramal, Wander, Khandelwal, Dr Reddy's and Cadila being asked to bring some of their formulations under price ceiling for the first time. The NPPA has also decided to bring in some of the Aspirin combinations under price control. Aspirin and combinations of Dipyridmole, Clopidogrel, Isosorbide mononitrate tablets / capsules of different strengths manufactured by all leading companies would also come under price control.