Formulations of anti-ulcer drug famotidine will have to soon take a blow from the government price regulator. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has announced a major 33 per cent reduction in the prices of bulk famotidine and is planning to effect corresponding reduction in the prices of formulations.

The NPPA has slashed the price of famotidine from Rs 4,684 per kg to Rs 3,143, as per a notification.

Major brands of famotidine in the market include Facid and Facid AC from Intas, Fadine (Aristo), Famocd (SunPharma), Famorila (Glenmark), Famotin (USV Ltd), Famovane from JK Drugs & Pharma, Famtac (Nicholas Piramal), Fudone (Wockhardt), Topcid/CT (Torrent) and Zactane (Wyeth Lederle). An imminent cut in the price of famitidine formulation would exert a negative impact on famotidine sales. There is no question of the price slash resulting in an increase in sales volume, because alternate drugs like cimetidine and rantidine can creep into famotidine market even then, sources said.

Famitidine is a widely used gastrointestinal drug with anti-ulcer/ anti-secretory potencies. A competitive H2 receptor antagonist, the drug acts markedly to reduce acid output by totally inhibiting histamine induced gastric acid secretion.