A pregabalin capsule that costs a few dollars at a UK or US pharmacy costs $1 to $3 from us, shipping included. People reasonably ask what's being cut. The answer is: nothing in the capsule. The gap is structural, and it's the same reason India supplies a large share of the generic medicines used in the UK, the US and Australia.
The world's generic pharmacy
India's pharmaceutical industry grew up under a patent system that, until 2005, protected manufacturing processes rather than molecules. Indian companies became expert at making the same molecules by different routes, cheaply, at scale. Today Indian plants supply around 40% of generic prescriptions dispensed in the US and a significant share of the UK's NHS supply. Many "Western" generics on pharmacy shelves are made in Hyderabad or Ahmedabad and boxed under a local brand.
Who regulates the makers
Manufacturers are licensed by CDSCO, India's drug regulator, and by their state licensing authority. Plants that export to regulated markets hold WHO-GMP certification (Good Manufacturing Practice, inspected to the World Health Organization standard), and the larger ones are also inspected by the US FDA, the UK MHRA or the EU. HAB Pharmaceuticals (Nervigesic), Healing Pharma (Nervismart) and Asher Pharmaceuticals (Nerviash) are all CDSCO-licensed manufacturers.
Where the cost goes
- No research or patent cost. Pregabalin's patents expired; the molecule is public knowledge.
- Competition. Dozens of Indian brands of pregabalin compete on price, which doesn't happen in a market with two or three suppliers.
- Lower manufacturing and labour costs, with the same equipment and process standards.
- No pharmacy or insurance mark-up — you buy from the distributor.
How to tell genuine from fake
Counterfeits exist, mostly of expensive branded drugs rather than cheap generics (there's little margin in faking a $1 capsule). Still, check:
- Batch number, manufacture date and expiry printed into the strip foil, matching the carton.
- Manufacturer name and licence number on the carton.
- Uniform capsules in sealed, intact blisters.
- A supplier who tells you the manufacturer's name and shows the actual product — not a stock photo.
Our product pages show the real cartons and strips, and every order ships with at least 12 months of shelf life.