Price reductions range from 5 per cent to nearly 60 per cent for certain high-cost, vital biologic medicines.
Emirates Drug Establishment has issued a new decision to reduce the retail prices of 168 pharmaceutical products across the United Arab Emirates.
The price cuts apply to medicines used for a wide range of chronic and critical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, thrombosis and stroke, cholesterol disorders, gastrointestinal illnesses, psychological and neurological disorders, eye diseases, and asthma.
The decision, which will take effect on May 30, covers multiple medications in different dosages, all of which will be available to the public at the revised lower prices.
Pharmacies across the various emirates and cities in the United Arab Emirates have already begun reflecting noticeable differences between current and revised medicine prices, with reductions varying depending on the therapeutic category.
Discounts range from approximately 5 per cent to nearly 60 per cent for certain high-cost, vital, and biologic medicines.
The decision includes a notable price cut of around 59.5 per cent for Zocor 40 mg, used to lower cholesterol levels, while Xalatan, prescribed for treating elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients, recorded the second-highest reduction at approximately 51.7 per cent.
The decision recorded some of the highest price reductions for expensive biologic and vital medicines, including oncology drugs and advanced lung cancer treatments.
Among the biggest cuts was Alunbrig 180 mg, which dropped from Dh26,433 to Dh21,108. Alunbrig 90 mg was reduced from Dh19,824 to Dh12,520, while Alunbrig 30 mg fell from Dh6,608 to Dh4,173.
In addition, Xeloda 150 mg, used in the treatment of breast, colon, and rectal cancers, decreased from Dh347 to Dh241, marking one of the steepest reductions across therapeutic categories.
In detail, the Emirates Drug Establishment issued Decision No. (12) of 2026, covering 168 pharmaceutical products in different formulations and therapeutic categories targeting a wide range of chronic and critical illnesses.
The decision specifically targeted cost reductions for advanced therapies used in chronic heart failure patients, reflected in lower prices for the Verquvo family of medicines across different dosages.
Verquvo 2.5 mg will now retail at Dh244, down from Dh257, while the higher dose Verquvo 10 mg has been reduced to Dh474.50 from Dh499.50.
Diabetes medications
The move also brought significant price cuts for Type 2 diabetes treatments based on glipizide, alone or in combination with metformin. This includes Amaryl 1 mg, now priced at Dh19 instead of Dh25, and Amaryl 2 mg, reduced to Dh32 from Dh39.50. Higher strength Amaryl 3 mg also saw a drop from Dh57.50 to Dh47.50.
Hypertension medications and combinations
Blood pressure treatments, including single, dual, and triple-combination therapies, accounted for a major share of the price reductions.
Renitec 10 mg now costs Dh48 instead of Dh64, while Renitec 20 mg has been reduced from Dh83 to Dh62. Aprovel 150 mg dropped to Dh63.50 from Dh99.50, and Aprovel 300 mg declined to Dh85 from Dh117.
The reductions also include Lercadip 10 mg, now priced at Dh56.50 instead of Dh59.50, and Lercadip 20 mg, reduced to Dh89 from Dh98. SEVIKAR 20/5 mg also saw a decrease, falling from Dh112 to Dh93.
Cancer treatments and oncology medicines
Cancer drugs recorded some of the most significant cuts due to their high biologic value and use in advanced therapies for lung and other cancers.
Leading the category was Alunbrig 180 mg, containing the active ingredient Brigatinib and used in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, with its price reduced to Dh21,108 from Dh26,433. Alunbrig 30 mg fell to Dh4,173.50 from Dh6,608, while Alunbrig 90 mg dropped from Dh19,824 to Dh12,520.
The decision also reduced the price of Xeloda 150 mg, used in treating breast, colon, and rectal cancers, from Dh347 to Dh241.
Stroke and blood clot prevention
The decision focused on reducing prices of modern anticoagulants and blood thinners, which are essential for protecting patients—particularly those with atrial fibrillation or those recovering from joint replacement surgeries—from venous thrombosis and sudden strokes.
Pradaxa 110 mg has been reduced to Dh198 from Dh220, while Pradaxa 150 mg now costs Dh394.50 instead of Dh438.50.
Cholesterol medications
The decision also included long-term lipid-lowering therapies, introducing a unified reduced price for all doses of Simvastatin under the Zocor brand.
Zocor 10 mg, Zocor 20 mg, and Zocor 40 mg will now all retail at Dh67.50 per pack, compared to previous prices of Dh83.50, Dh91.50, and Dh166.50 respectively.
Gastrointestinal treatments
Proton pump inhibitors used for treating stomach ulcers were also included in the approved price reductions. PARIET 20 mg now costs Dh47.50 instead of Dh75.
The decision also revised prices for pediatric and infant biologic treatments used in managing acute gastroenteritis and diarrhoea, helping prevent dehydration and support faster recovery. Hidrasec Children 30 mg granules are now priced at Dh42 per pack of 16 sachets, while Hidrasec Infants 10 mg has been reduced to Dh43 from Dh50.
Psychological and neurological disorders
Significant reductions were also introduced for biologic therapies used in chronic psychiatric and neurological conditions.
Leading the category is Invega (Paliperidone), used in extended-release treatment for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. Invega 3 mg is now priced at Dh381.50, down from Dh449.50, while Invega 6 mg has dropped from Dh562 to Dh381.50. Invega 9 mg saw a sharp reduction from Dh843 to Dh416.
The decision also includes Zeldox (Ziprasidone Hydrochloride), used in acute and chronic schizophrenia treatment. Zeldox 20 mg now costs Dh203 instead of Dh272, Zeldox 40 mg is priced at Dh214.50 instead of Dh286, Zeldox 60 mg at Dh214 instead of Dh286, and the highest dose Zeldox 80 mg has been reduced to Dh300 from Dh389.
Eye care and asthma treatments
The decision also included reductions for eye medications used to prevent glaucoma and control elevated intraocular pressure to protect the optic nerve.
This includes GANFORT eye drops, now priced at Dh99.50 instead of Dh114, Combigan eye drops at Dh78.50 instead of Dh94, and Xalatan 0.005% (latanoprost), reduced significantly from Dh89 to Dh43.
In addition, the decision covered advanced biologic therapies for asthma and immunological conditions, including inhalers and injectable treatments used in severe cases.
For patients with severe eosinophilic asthma unresponsive to standard treatments, Nucala 100 mg (Mepolizumab) has been reduced, with both vial and pre-filled syringe forms now unified at Dh5,142 instead of Dh6,212.50.
Key highlights
The decision also includes reductions in the cost of advanced therapies prescribed for patients with chronic heart muscle failure.
Xalatan, used to treat elevated eye pressure in glaucoma patients, recorded a 51.7% price reduction.
The move further focused on reducing the cost of modern anticoagulants and blood thinners, which play a key role in protecting patients from thrombosis and stroke risks.
