Price War

Two global majors seek to withdraw stents after price cap. But the NPPA is unlikely to budge.

- Joe C. Mathew

On April 26 , the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) scuttled plans of global medical device manufacturers Abbott and Medtronic to withdraw some high-end cardiac stents from the market. Abbott had sought permission to discontinue the marketing of Xience Alpine and Absorb BVS brands while Ireland-based Medtronic wanted to withdraw its ‘Resolute Onyx Zotarolimus Eluting Coronary Stent System’. Their reasons were the same -- these had become commercially unviable after the NPPA’s February order capping prices of stents that can be sold in India.