The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) has notified the retail price of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Asia's cold medicine combination, paracetamol 500 mg and phenylephrine HCl 10 mg, at ₹6.96 per sachet. This decision follows an application made by the company and a recommendation by the Multidisciplinary Committee (MDC) of experts.

Key highlights

Price fixation process

• The MDC recommended a retail price of ₹6.96 per sachet after reviewing GSK's application.

• GSK had requested a special price of ₹27 per sachet, excluding GST, citing product advantages.

• The NPPA deliberated on this proposal during its 134th authority meeting on June 26, 2025, and accepted the MDC’s recommendation for the price.

• The price is set based on the product’s price in April 2024 and includes a retailer’s margin of ₹0.96 per sachet.

Therapeutic advantages

• GSK's new cold medicine combines paracetamol and phenylephrine to treat fever, cold, and nasal congestion.

• The formulation claims faster solubility and disintegration, enhanced absorption, and better safety and efficacy.

• The product, which will be sold as powder in individual sachets, can be dissolved in hot water to treat cold and fever symptoms.

Competitive pricing

• The price of the GSK product, ₹6.96, is lower than the competitor’s product, Enfrio Hot Sip, which is sold at ₹30 per sachet.

Regulatory details

• The price fixing follows the provisions of the Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO) 2013 under Para 11(3), which allows for the setting of separate prices for new formulations with a specified therapeutic rationale.

• The NPPA’s decision also aligns with the recommendations made by an Expert Committee under the DPCO guidelines.

The NPPA’s notification to fix the price for GSK’s cold medicine aims to provide consumers with a more affordable and effective treatment option for common cold and nasal congestion. The decision follows a thorough review by experts and is part of ongoing efforts to regulate drug pricing and ensure public access to quality medicines.