Shilpa Medicare is set to launch Shilpa CDMO, a dedicated contract development and manufacturing organisation focused on complex small molecules, at CPHI Milan 2026, scheduled for October 6–8 at Fiera Milano, under the theme “Your complex molecules → medicines.” 

The company said the new identity is intended to bring its chemistry, development and manufacturing capabilities under a single proposition for global biotech and pharma customers.

The new brand, which will operate separately from its parent company’s corporate identity, will provide development and commercial manufacturing services for complex molecules, building on Shilpa’s more than three decades of experience in oncology and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Keshav Bhutada, Chief Executive Officer, Shilpa CDMO, said the company’s existing capabilities in challenging molecules, including highly potent active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPIs), peptides, ADC payloads and linkers, PROTACs and oligonucleotides, have created an opportunity to build a more distinct global CDMO proposition.

“We have long been known among our existing partners as incredibly capable, particularly for challenging molecules such as HPAPIs and peptides, and more recently ADC payloads and linkers, PROTACs and oligonucleotides,” Bhutada said.

The launch comes as US and European biotechnology companies increasingly look to diversify development and manufacturing supply chains beyond China. Shilpa CDMO is positioning itself in this market by combining complex chemistry expertise with development and commercial manufacturing capacity.

“Available capacity is not the same as capable capacity,” said Yagnesh Solanki, Director – CDMO, Shilpa CDMO. “For a next-generation compound, the choice of CDMO can be the difference between a programme progressing successfully and encountering years of avoidable redevelopment, delay and additional cost.”

The company operates a small-molecule development and manufacturing platform comprising 230 kL of reactor capacity, three R&D centres, more than 400 scientists and two dedicated API manufacturing sites.

A key differentiator is the proximity of Shilpa CDMO’s payload and linker chemistry operations to sister company Shilpa Biologicals, which provides antibody production, conjugation and fill-finish services. The two operations are located within 200 miles of each other, enabling ADC and conjugate programmes to reduce intercontinental shipment of intermediates and simplify supply chains.

Dipak Kalita, Senior Vice President – CDMO Services, Shilpa CDMO, said the company has seen increasing interest from new chemical entity (NCE) customers seeking capabilities beyond its established oncology position.

“What has often surprised new customers – and demonstrated why we need a clearer brand — is the breadth and depth of our capabilities beyond our established position in oncology. We are also investing heavily in PROTACs and peptides,” Kalita said.

He added that the combination of Shilpa CDMO and Shilpa Biologicals provides an integrated offering spanning payload and linker chemistry, antibody production, conjugation and fill-finish, with the proximity of the facilities helping reduce development timelines and supply-chain complexity.

With the launch of Shilpa CDMO, Shilpa Medicare is seeking to strengthen its position in the global complex-molecule CDMO market, particularly as emerging biotech companies look for specialised development partners with both technical expertise and scalable manufacturing capacity.