Shilpa CDMO, a dedicated contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) focused on complex small molecules, will officially launch its new brand at CPHI Milan 2026. The event will take place from 6–8 October at Fiera Milano. The new business, which operates separately from its parent company Shilpa Medicare, will provide specialist development and commercial manufacturing services to biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies working with complex small molecules. The launch builds on Shilpa’s more than 30 years of experience in oncology and pharmaceutical development.
Shilpa CDMO Expands Focus on Complex Molecules
According to Keshav Bhutada, Chief Executive Officer, Shilpa CDMO, the organisation has established a strong reputation among its existing partners for handling challenging molecules. “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 mentioned. Bhutada explained that the growing opportunities within the CDMO business prompted Shilpa to establish a more distinct identity in the global market. The company will therefore take its CDMO division to market as Shilpa CDMO, with a clear focus on the development and manufacture of novel and complex molecules. The new brand aims to demonstrate the breadth of its contract development and manufacturing capabilities to a wider range of biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovators.
Growing Demand for Complex-Molecule CDMO Services
The launch comes at a time when biotechnology companies in the US and Europe are increasingly looking to diversify their drug development and manufacturing strategies beyond China. Although the global CDMO market includes hundreds of service providers, specialised expertise and infrastructure for genuinely complex molecules remain concentrated among a smaller group of organisations. Furthermore, many providers have limited near-term capacity, maintain a strong China-centric manufacturing footprint or prioritise their largest customers. As a result, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are increasingly seeking CDMO partners that combine technical expertise, available manufacturing capacity and experience with complex drug programmes. Yagnesh Solanki, Director – CDMO at Shilpa CDMO, highlighted the importance of selecting the right manufacturing partner for complex drug programmes. He added that the right CDMO can significantly influence the success and speed of a next-generation drug programme. By choosing a partner with the necessary technical capabilities and infrastructure, companies can potentially avoid redevelopment, delays and additional costs.
Large-Scale Small-Molecule Development Platform
To address this growing demand, Shilpa CDMO continues to invest in its small-molecule development and manufacturing infrastructure. The platform currently includes 230 kL of reactor capacity, three R&D centres, more than 400 scientists and two dedicated API manufacturing sites. As per the press release, in addition to its commercial manufacturing infrastructure, Shilpa CDMO has dedicated R&D teams specialising in HPAPIs and oncology, peptides, ADC payloads and linkers, oligonucleotides and PROTACs.
Its integrated capabilities cover the complete development journey, from discovery and route scouting to process development, analytical development, commercial drug-substance manufacturing and finished-dose manufacturing. This integrated model enables Shilpa CDMO to support biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies throughout different stages of complex-molecule development.
Integrated Capabilities for ADC and Conjugate Programmes
Shilpa CDMO also offers a closely integrated solution for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and conjugate programmes. Its payload and linker chemistry operations are located within 200 miles of sister company Shilpa Biologicals, which provides antibody production, conjugation and fill-finish services. Consequently, the proximity between the two organisations can reduce the need for intercontinental shipment of intermediates. It can also help shorten development timelines while simplifying the supply chain for ADC and conjugate programmes.
Commercial-Scale Peptide Manufacturing
At CPHI Milan, Shilpa CDMO will also announce details of its new commercial-scale peptide manufacturing capabilities. The expansion will further strengthen the company’s ability to support complex peptide programmes from early development through to commercial supply. With its expanded capabilities across complex small molecules, peptides, HPAPIs, ADC payloads and linkers, PROTACs and oligonucleotides, Shilpa CDMO is positioning itself as a specialist partner for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies developing the next generation of complex medicines.
