Shilpa Medicare Ltd, a leading active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer, has entered into a joint venture agreement with ICE S.r.l. and PCA, Spa of Italy. Under the agreement, it has set up a new company Raichem Medicare (P) Ltd.

Both Shilpa and ICE (Industria Chemica Emiliana), Italy have been working together for the last seven years for custom synthesis under confidentiality agreement. The success of this has led to the joint venture, stated Omprakash Inani, chairman, Shilpa Medicare.

While ICA is a recognized major manufacturer of bile acid derivative such as cholic acid which helps regulate cholesterol acid, PCA is a US FDA company manufacturing Ursodeoxycholic acid. Both the companies are the largest producers Ursodeoxycholic acid.

The Raichur-based Shilpa Medicare has a range of APIs for various disease segments, but is well known for its oncology bulk drug range. It is also engaged in the production of nutraceuticals. The leading oncology APIs manufactured by Shilpa include Gemcitabine HCL, Irinotecan HCl, Trihydrate, Oxaliplatin, Bicalutamide ,Carboplatin, Anastrozole, Cisplatin, Temozolomide, Capecitabine, Docetaxel, Letrozole, Thalidomide and Topotecan HCl.

Among the fastest growing oncology drugs are Gemcitabine HCl which has been filed in 27 countries in the European Union. Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan and Gemcitabine will be off patent in 2009 in the US. Irinotecan will also be off patent in the European Union around the same time.