A 25 to 40 cut in the prices of all dosage forms of frusemide, ranitidine and cefazoline should be expected in the coming weeks with the substantial reduction in the prices of these bulk drugs effected by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority last week. The price changes in the case of formulations of trimethoprim, ephedrine, pseudo-ephidrine and famotidine may not be that significant as the price cut of these bulk drugs are only modest.

Most of the formulations of frusemide, ranitidine and cefazoline marketed by pharmaceutical majors as branded products are currently priced quite high as their prices are based on bulk drugs prices which were not revised since last two years.

Although the market prices of these three APIs were almost on par with the currently revised level, the formulators have been enjoying a very high an unintended margins on these brands. With the fresh price revision, the price of frusemide has been cut down to Rs 1473 per Kg from the existing price 1818 per Kg, the ranitidine price has been slashed by almost half to Rs 690 per Kg. And the price of cefazoline sodium has been revised down to Rs 9398 per Kg from Rs 13133 per Kg.

The changes in the prices of other bulk drugs are: Trimethoprim (Rs 700 from Rs 865 per Kg), Ephedrine HCl (Rs 1314 from 1431 per Kg), Pseudo-Ephidrine (Rs 1967 from Rs 2029 per Kg) and Famotidine (Rs 1673 from Rs 1783 per Kg).

The leading brands of the Frusemide dosage forms are Diucontin-K of Modi Mundi Pharma, Frusenex of Geno Pharma, Lasix of Aventis and Salinex of IDPL. As the bulk drug price has been cut by around 25 per cent, it is expected that the NPPA soon announce the corresponding revision in the formulation prices.

According to sources in Aventis, the company was expecting the price cut as the market price of frusemide was falling for the last few months and the company would be adhering to any price cut in formulations by the government. At the same time, the government should also consider the costs other than API prices when announcing the price cut for formulations.

The top selling brands among Ranitidine dosage forms are Zoran from DRL, Histac of Ranbaxy and Aciloc of Cadila Pharma. While refixing the bulk drug prices, the NPPA has now slashed Ranitidine HCl price by almost 50 per cent. Hence the price cut on its dosage forms is going to be significant. At present, ten tablets of 150 gm costs Rs 7 to Rs 10 in the retail market.

Similarly, Cefazoline Sodium price was reduced by 30 per cent. This would reflect correspondingly in the formulation prices as well. According to industry sources as the API prices are the major cost component in all these formulations the NPPA is most likely to implement the price cut on the dosage forms immediately. The major brands of Cefazoline Sodium are Cezolin IM of Lupin (500 mg vial Rs 29.42), Reflin of Ranbaxy (500mg vial Rs 35.98), Orizolin Zydus (500 mg vial Rs 27.01), Azolin of Biochem (500 mg vial Rs 35.76) and Lyzolin of Lyka (500 mg vial Rs 29.46).

Leading brands of Frusemide, Ranitdine and Cefazoline Sodium.