However, NPPA reduced prices of three formulation packs including Zevit capsule by 50 per cent and Becosule capsule by about 31 per cent, an official release said here today.

Becosule capsules would now cost less by 31.48 per cent as prices have been reduced to Rs 7.90 from Rs 11.53 (a strip of 10 capsules). Main producers of this vitamin include Pfizer Ltd, Duchem Ltd and Omniprotech Drug Ltd.

A 10 ml vial of insulin injection, manufactured by Knoll Pharmaceuticals Ltd, would, has seen a steep hike of 16.37 per cent at Rs 72.34 from Rs 50.34.

Glaxo India's Betnovate C skin cream (20 gm tube) and Hamdard Laboratories' Cinkara syrup (500 ml bottle carton) would now be available at higher prices of Rs18.02 and Rs 36.50 respectively, registering price increase of 4.16 per cent and 5.67 per cent respectively.

The drug prices have been fixed by the authority in accordance with the provisions of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995 and as per the established criteria and guidelines.

The revised prices would become effective within 15 days from the date of notification in the official gazette or the receipt of the order of the authority, the release said.

Analysts say that slapping of a ceiling price on Pfizer's Becosules (the top-selling formulation in India as per ORG data) is expected to impact the company's bottomline significantly given that the Multivitamin brand accounts for sales of over Rs 80 crore. Analysts expect the 50 per cent price cut in SmithKline Beecham's Rs 28 crore Zevit brand to depress margins rather sharply.

Rumours of this notification by the NPPA had been doing the rounds since March but petered out following the recent government notification necessitating the ministry'sclearance for changes made under para 10(b) of the DPCO. Glaxo and Burroughs Wellcome managing director and chief of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) HR Khushrokhan had in late March said it would be "unfortunate" and "send contradictory signals" if the notification is issued.

``It is surprising to note that the government has increased the prices of these commonly used medicines. It is a big blow for consumers who are already reeling under rising costs of medicines. On the other hand, pharma companies are raking in more profits,'' protested a consumer activist.