Akums’ subsidiary receives an NPPA demand notice of ₹52.75 crore on a Hetero-marketed injection, and says the marketer is liable

Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited has told the exchanges that its wholly owned subsidiary, Pure and Cure Healthcare Private Limited, received a demand notice dated 13 Oct 2026 from the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). The notice concerns Lanol 1000 mg injection (100 ml), which Pure and Cure manufactures for its client Hetero Healthcare Limited, the marketer. It says Hetero fixed the product's maximum retail price above the limits under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

The notice quantifies the amount at ₹52,74,68,193, or about ₹52.75 crore, including the alleged overcharged amount for December 2017 to August 2024, a penalty of ₹18,94,80,649, which is 100% of the overcharged amount, and interest.

The notice was issued to three parties: Hetero Healthcare as the marketer, Abaris Healthcare Private Limited and Pure and Cure as manufacturer. Akums says the prime responsibility to respond is Hetero's as marketer, and that its supply agreements, in the ordinary course, make the marketer solely liable for any violation of price control provisions, including penalties and interest. The notice was received on 15 Oct 2026 at 11:05 AM.

Inference

The demand names the subsidiary as a manufacturer, but the pricing allegation is about the maximum retail price set by the marketer. Akums relies on contract clauses that place liability on the marketer, which is a position the filing states and which the authority has not accepted or rejected.

The filing does not give the company's estimate of its own exposure. Shareholders may want to follow the replies filed, the NPPA's decision and any further disclosure on whether the subsidiary has to pay any part of the amount.