Targretin

Warnings and Precautions

Boxed warning: birth defects

Targretin belongs to the retinoid family, which causes birth defects. It must never be taken during pregnancy. Women who can become pregnant need a negative pregnancy test within 1 week before starting and every month during treatment, and must use effective contraception for 1 month before, during and for at least 1 month after treatment; two reliable methods together are recommended. Targretin can make hormonal contraceptives less effective. Men whose partner is or could become pregnant must use condoms during treatment and for at least 1 month after the last dose.

High blood fats

Large rises in triglycerides and cholesterol are very common. At doses above 300 mg/m², about 70% of patients had triglycerides more than 2.5 times the normal limit. Fasting lipids are checked before starting and regularly after; many patients need lipid-lowering medicine. Gemfibrozil should not be used with Targretin, because it raises bexarotene levels.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas, including one death, has been reported, linked to very high triglycerides. Report severe tummy pain at once.

Thyroid

About half of patients develop an underactive thyroid. Thyroid tests are checked and thyroid hormone is given if needed.

Liver, white cells and eyes

Liver tests can rise, and liver failure has been reported, so they are checked during treatment. White cell counts can fall. New or worse cataracts were seen in 15 of 79 patients who had eye checks.

Sun sensitivity and vitamin A

The skin can burn easily, so limit sun and UV exposure. Keep vitamin A from supplements low (the label advises no more than 15,000 IU a day), as it adds to retinoid side effects.

Other side effects

Headache, weakness, rash, nausea, infection, swelling of the legs, tummy pain and dry skin. Patients with diabetes on insulin or similar medicines should watch for low blood sugar. This is not a complete list.

This information is not a treatment plan. For personalized medical advice, consult your doctor and refer to the full prescribing information.

How to Get Targretin in India: Step by Step

Targretin is not sold in India, so it is imported for one named patient at a time. As it is taken every day, we plan the supply in bottles of 100 capsules.

Step 1: Share the prescription

Send the prescription with the daily number of capsules and the planned months. At 6 capsules a day, one bottle of 100 lasts about 16 days, so a month needs two bottles. Our pharmacist confirms the count for the prescribed dose.

Step 2: Document check

A registered pharmacist checks the prescription, the skin biopsy confirming CTCL, the summary of earlier systemic treatment and the patient's ID, and tells you at once if anything is missing.

Step 3: Quote for the bottles needed

The Targretin price in India is quoted for the number of bottles, plus freight and customs clearance.

Step 4: Form 12A application and Form 12B permit

We prepare the Form 12A application to CDSCO under Rule 36 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. CDSCO states the Form 12B permit is usually issued within one to two days and stays valid for six months.

Step 5: Import away from heat

The capsules are stored between 2°C and 25°C and protected from light, so they need protection from Indian summer heat in transit.

Step 6: Delivery and refills

We deliver to the patient's address on the permit or to the treating hospital, and plan the next order before the current bottles run out.

How much time does the process take?

The permit step usually takes one to two working days once all documents are complete. We share the expected delivery date with the quote, as it depends on stock at source and the flight route.

Documents Needed to Import Targretin

• A prescription that names Targretin (bexarotene) capsules, the daily dose, the number of bottles and months, with the doctor's medical council registration number
• The skin biopsy report confirming cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and a summary of earlier systemic treatment
• For women who can become pregnant, a recent negative pregnancy test
• Patient ID proof issued by the Government of India
• The signed Form 12A, which our team prepares for you

Is Targretin available in India?

No. Targretin (bexarotene) has no marketing approval in India and is not sold in Indian pharmacies. We checked the published minutes of CDSCO's oncology and haematology expert committees from 2018 to November 2026, and bexarotene does not appear in them. It can still be imported legally for a named patient under Rule 36, with a Form 12A application and a Form 12B permit.

Targretin 75 mg capsules: how many will you need?

Targretin comes as 75 mg soft capsules in bottles of 100. The daily number depends on body size, usually 4 to 10 capsules. People often search for the bexarotene 75 mg price, but the monthly cost depends on the dose.

Can you buy Targretin online in India?

Not from an open online store, because a medicine without Indian approval cannot be sold off the shelf. The legal way is to send the prescription to NPP, and we arrange the permit and import in the patient's name.

Access from SAARC and Gulf countries

Patients from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Gulf can also ask us, subject to each country's import rules. Read our guide to Indian import regulations for the full legal process.

Sourcing & Delivery of Targretin

Targretin capsules are marketed by Bausch Health in the United States and by H.A.C. Pharma in the European Union. As a Targretin supplier in India under the named patient route, NPP buys it only through authorised channels and only after the patient's permit is issued, so every bottle can be traced to one patient and one prescription.

Storage

Store at 2°C to 25°C, protected from light. After opening, keep the bottle away from high temperature and humidity. We ship in insulated packs that protect against heat; see our temperature-controlled shipping.

Safe handling at home

Because Targretin causes birth defects, keep it away from children and from anyone who is or may become pregnant, and return unused capsules to the pharmacy.

Checked before dispatch

A registered pharmacist matches every order with the prescription and the permit before it leaves New Delhi, and checks the expiry date covers the treatment period.

For the Targretin cost in India and current availability, contact NPP via WhatsApp at +91 98104 69557 | Toll-Free: 1800-1200-365 or email info@namedpatientprogram.com.

Targretin Access Across Major Cities in India

Targretin is taken at home, while blood fats, thyroid and liver tests are done at the clinic. We deliver to the patient or the hospital, as the doctor prefers.

• Delhi NCR: Orders leave from New Delhi, so Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and Faridabad get the quickest delivery. See imported medicines in Delhi NCR.
• Mumbai: Delivery to patients treated in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. See imported medicines in Mumbai.
• Bangalore: Bottles planned around the blood-test visits. See imported medicines in Bangalore.
• Chennai and Vellore: Delivery to the patient or the dermatology or haematology unit. See imported medicines in Chennai.
• Kolkata: Delivery for patients from eastern India and the North-East. See imported medicines in Kolkata.
• Other cities: Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kerala, Lucknow, Jaipur and more, with delivery to the address on the permit.

See how we arrange delivery of imported medicines to hospitals across India.