The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has revised and fixed the price of 447 formulations prices including 34 non ceiling prices of imported drugs along with price of four bulk drugs in the last week. The authority has also fixed the price of two non-scheduled packs, from Dr Reddy's Laboratories and Nirmal Ltd, finding a price increase of more than 10 per cent within a period of one year.

According to the notification, the NPPA has fixed the price of Daivobet ointment from Win Medicare, levemir penfill from Novo Nordisk India, depomedrol, solu medrol AOV and Medrol tablets from Pfizer India, recosulin of Shreya Life Sciences and Monocomponent Insulin from Eli Lilly and Company. The price of dextropropoxyphene combinations from Wockhardt Ltd is also reviewed by the authority.

By revising the prices of 413 ceiling packs, the authority has addressed three new cases of dexamethasone and trimethoprim combinations and metronidazole tablet, apart from fixing suo-moto price regulatory measure on bulk drug dexibuprofen. The NPPA has also fixed the prices for various strengths, quantities and packages of pseudoephedrine combinations, multivitamin capsules, tablets, injections, syrups and tonics, solution, lotion, cream and ointment forms of tolnaftate with polythylene combination, betamethasone combinations, dexamethasone, ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, betamethasone, asprin and ranitidine with combinations.

The price of liquid in glass or plastic bottles of betamethasone combination and multivitamin drops, tonic and syrup were re notified with pro-rata factor, in its new announcement. The authority also renotified prices of various packages of ibuprofen+paracetamol suspension, chloroquine phosphate tablets and dexamethasone +tobramycin+ benzalkonium chloride eye drops.

NPPA has also fixed the price of four bulk drugs, analgin, nalidixic acid, spironolactone, frusemide to be effective after 15 days from notification.

In another notification, the NPPA ordered Dr Reddy's Ltd to limit the price of Enam 5 (Tablet) formulation pack with uncoated tablet containing enalapril maleate IP 5mg to Rs 42.54, using the powers delegated under sub-para (b) of Para 10 and 11 of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order and other government notifications. The authority observed that the company has increased its price to more than 10 per cent during the period from November 2006 to November 2007.

The authority has also asked Nirmal Ltd to fix its price of ringer lactate solution Injection. 500ml x 1 formulation pack to Rs 46.20 for each 500ml package. NPPA observed an increase of more than 10 per cent for the product during the period from March 2007 to June 2007. The authority asked the two companies to reduce the price within 15 days from the date of notification.