Cipla, Glenmark get NPPA nod for inhaler pricing over 'innovative' quotient

Glenmark had appealed to the pricing regulator in 2016 asking for a differential price for its Digihaler

The drug pricing regulator has allowed two Mumbai-based pharma majors — Cipla and Glenmark — to have an enhanced pricing for two of their respiratory (inhaler) products on grounds that these were ‘innovative’ from the other similar products available in the market. 

In a meeting in December, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority’s (NPPA) expert committee decided to allow Cipla’s Synchrobreathe Inhaler Device a separate price other than the ceiling price already recommended  by the regulator. Similarly, for Glenmark’s digital dose counter (sold under brand name Digihaler) the NPPA agreed to allow a different price. 

According to a source, the NPPA has raised