On the other hand, four drug formualtions would become cheaper, and an equal number has been added to the list of drugs whose prices have been fixed by the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA).

According to a Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers release on Thursday, the prices of 33 drug formulations were being hiked mainly on account of increase in packing material cost, cost of excipients, reduction of Modvat benefit to 95 per cent and four per cent special additional duty in case of imported bulk drugs used in the manufacture of formulations.

The prices in respect of two formulations have been reduced on account of reduction in the notified price of the bulk drug, while in respect of another two the prices have been lowered taking into consideration the price of imported bulk drug. The reduction in formulations ranges from 4.42 per cent to 53.84 per cent.

The pricing authority, NPPA, has also decided to fix prices in case of four formualtions. Corporate houses involved in today's price revision are: Pharmacia & Upjpjohn India Pvt Ltd; E Merck India Ltd; Hoechst Roussel Vet Pvt Ltd; Hoechst marion Ltd; Ifiunik Pharma Ltd; Lupin Lab Ltd; unique Chemicals Ltd; Unique Pharmaceuticals Lab LtdRanbaxy Lab Ltd and Knoll Pharma/Searle India, according to the government notification.

Drugs that will become cheaper after today's revision are Lincocin injection (2ml) (of Pharmacia & Upjohn India Pvt Ltd) at Rs 20.31 as against the existing price of Rs 44. This is a broad spectrum anti-biotic drug. Lincocin capsule of 500 mg has become cheaper at Rs 198.98 as against the present price of Rs 234.

All the other formulation packs -- from the houses of E Merck India Ltd, Hoechst Roussel Vet Pvt Ltd, Hoechst Marion Roussel, Ifiunik Pharma Ltd, Lupin Lab Ltd, Unique Chemicals Ltd, Unique Pharmaceutical Lab Ltd -- have become costlier -- some very marginally though. Highest gain at 25.44 per cent in the revision has been for Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd out of the revision of its Frusemide (Lasix) tablet of 40 mg. This tablet's price has been revised to Rs 93.58 for 25 x 10's strip from the earlier price of Rs 74.60 for the same strip.

Multivitamin B Complex -- Polybion Amp. (E Merck India) -- of 2 ml x 50 Amp. has become costlier at Rs 140.42 as against the existing price of Rs 127.37 for the same pack. Hoechst Roussel's veterinary anti-biotic powder has become costlier at Rs 130.03 per 100 gm sachet as against the existing price of Rs 128.07. Ifiunik Pharma's Metrogyl compound has become costlier at Rs 127.19 per plastic bottle of 100 tablets as against the existing price of Rs 121.17 per bottle.