The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has either fixed or revised the prices of 130 packs of different sizes and strengths of 31 formulations through a notification dated August 1, 2007. Out of the 130 formulation packs, the authority has fixed prices for 71 new packs, which comes as new strengths and combinations of drugs that are already under price regulation.

The authority has revised or fixed the prices of 33 non-ceiling packs consisting Monocomponent Insulin and its various strengths produced by Eli-Lilly and Company (I) Pvt. Ltd, Lantus - Monocomponent Insulin Glargine - from sanofi-aventis, Recosulin packs of Shreya Life Sciences Ltd, Multivitamin Injection and Elixir from AngloFrench Drugs and Industries.

The rest of 97 ceiling packs brought under new price list includes formulations based on bulk drugs including Analgin, Spironolactone, Salbutamol Sulphate with combinations, Cefotaxime Sodium with combinations, Ciprofloxacin, Pseudoephedrine with combinations, Rifampicin with combinations, Betamethasone with combinations, Pentazocine with combinations, Tetracycline, Norfloxacin, Amodiaquine, Tobramycin Sulphate with combinations, Gentamycin Sulphate with combinations, Trimethoprim with Combinations, Theophylline with combinations etc.

The price revision includes both hike and reduction of prices of various packs. Prices of drugs like spironolactone based formulations, chlorpromazine hcl, pentazocine were reduced, while packages with silver sulphadiazine is freshly fixed with the new order. The non-ceiling price of Monocomponent Insulin Huminsulin Regular 10ml has been decreased from Rs 380.79 to Rs 333.68, recording a reduction of 12.37 per cent, even as the ceiling price of combination, Theophylline +Ketotifen Fumerate tablets, has increased nearly 127 per cent from Rs 3.20 to Rs 7.26, marking the highest percentage of price hike in the list.

For different packing material used or any special feature claimed, companies are required to approach NPPA for approval/fixation of specific prices, according to the NPPA notification.