NEW DELHI, Oct. 17 -- The Centre has capped trade margins at 30% for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, seeking to curb markups of up to 700% in some cases and reduce retail prices by as much as 70%.

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, notified the cap on Saturday, with the revised prices to take effect on 9 November. The government invoked extraordinary public-interest powers to bring the drugs under tighter price regulation, following mounting scrutiny of excessive charges for life-saving treatments.

The move follows the Supreme Court's criticism of hospital profiteering, including cases in which a cancer medicine bought by retailers for Rs.2,700 was sold at a maximum retail...