Novartis India has declined around 3.5% in early morning trade at BSE on account of being penalised by National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA)
The NPPA has imposed a fine of around Rs 300 crore on Swiss multinational drug company Novartis for overcharging consumers on sale of Voveran, its best-selling painkiller medicine.
Voveran, Novartis’ analgesic brand, is based on diclofenac, a component under the government’s direct price control. According to IMS Health annual data, with annual sales of about Rs 225 crore, Voveran was among the top 10 brands in the domestic drug retail market as of April this year A strip of 15 Voveran SR 100 mg tablets currently costs Rs 102, while one of 50 mg comes for Rs 74.
The stocks opened at Rs 675 and hit a low of Rs 651 with around 9,000 shares changing hands on BSE counters, so far. The company is not listed on NSE.
