Turkish Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers should be considered as part of the Turkish pharmaceutical and medicinal products market. This market is dynamic and rapidly growing. In 2020, the pharmaceutical sector accounted for around 1% of overall Turkish exports.

There are around 785 companies in the Turkish pharmaceutical sector; 96 of them are pharmaceutical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, and 12 of them are raw material production facilities (source: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Turkey (IEIS), Turkish Pharmaceutical Industry 2021 Report).

Top Turkish Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

If you intend to import Turkish pharmaceutical products, consider visiting the Turkish Pharmaceutical Exporters’ website. It is a platform that operates under the umbrella of IEIS. The member list is available below.

There is another list from the “Turkish Pharmaceutical Industry Association”.  However, for some reason, that list does not contain Abdi İbrahim and some members of IEIS. My sisters are medical doctors, and I have completed over 10,000 pharmaceutical translations, so I am listing only those that I know or have heard before. I already provided you with the whole list of Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers via these links.

Abdi İbrahim Pharmaceuticals Industry and Trade, Inc., Istanbul

The company, which was founded in 1912, ranks first among Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers. The company became Turkey’s first strategic partner of a western pharmaceutical firm when it bought OM Pharma, a Swiss biotechnological pharmaceutical company, with a Swiss joint venture group in 2020. Abdi Brahim has the most diverse product range, with over 250 brands and 500 products. It has been a market leader in Turkey since 2002 and employs 5,500 people. Their product portfolio encompasses a wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiology, cancer, neurology, and others. Abdi İbrahim was the first Turkish company to be named one of the “World’s 100 Largest Pharmaceutical Companies” in 2007.

Nobel Pharmaceuticals Industry and Trade Inc., Istanbul

Nobel, a major player in Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturing, was founded in 1964 as a company with 100% local capital. Nobel has five production facilities in total: three in Turkey and one each in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The firm employs 4,000 people and exports to 50 different nations. It is a subsidiary of Ulkar Holding. The Kazakhstan production facility, which opened in 2002, is the country’s first to be certified for good manufacturing standards (GMP). Nobel manufactures medications, food supplements, and dermocosmetics.

Necip Akar Holding Inc., Istanbul

This holding, which dates back to the 1920s, includes two significant Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers.

• Gripin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is the manufacturer of Gripin, one of Turkey’s first domestic brands. Turkish folks still use gripin to treat colds.
• Derman Pharmaceuticals Industry and Trade Inc. manufactures painkillers under the Derman brand.

Santa Farma Pharmaceuticals Inc., Istanbul

Santa Farma is one of the few Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers that has survived many mergers, both globally and in Turkey. Santa Farma Pharmaceutical Factory Collective Company was founded in 1954 and changed its name in 1973. The GEBKIM Organized Industrial Zone production plant manufactures 150 million boxes of medicine in a single shift in its factory, which has a closed area of 44,000 m² on an area of 80,000 m².

Diafarma Pharmaceuticals and Medical Products Ltd., Istanbul

Diafarma, which was founded in 2003, exports and imports diabetes test strips, insulin pen needles, anti-cancer, cardiovascular, and dermatological medications, skin care products, dermal fillers, and contact lenses. Despite the fact that the company is listed among Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers, I was unable to locate its manufacturing facilities. It appears to be a marketing company with extensive connections. I’ve previously utilized Diafarma products.

Arven Pharmaceuticals Industry and Trade Inc., Istanbul

When compared to other Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers, Arven is a young company founded in 2013. The company manufactures pharmaceutical products covering the treatment areas of “respiratory, oncology, and hematology.”

Turkish Pharmaceutical Sector

According to the Turkish Pharmaceutical Exporters website, the sector employs approximately 40,000 people and has 105 manufacturing facilities. Turkey became a member of the “International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH)” in May 2020, and this was a turning point for the industry, demonstrating that Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers adhere to relevant global standards. Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers currently export to 191 countries (source: Turkish pharmaceutical industry).

23.3% Compound Annual Growth in 6 Years!

Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers increased their sales by 251.8% between 2015 and 2021. Of course, the sector did not grow this high. Considering the producer price inflation rates, the compound annual growth rate was 23.3%, which is still high (source: IEIS).

Top 50 Companies Account for 85% of the Market Value

In 2021, the top 50 companies by value accounted for 85% of the total market value and 80% of the total market volume (source: IEIS).

39 Research and Development Centers

Currently, Turkish pharmaceutical industry is dependent on imports. To overcome this importing necessity, there are 39 Ministry of Industry and Technology-accredited R&D centers employing approximately 1.575 personnel in total (Source: IEIS).

Last Words on Turkish Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

In conclusion, Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers are making their mark in the world of healthcare through their dedication to quality, safety, and new ideas. With their wide range of products and state-of-the-art factories, these companies can meet the different needs of the international healthcare community.

Today, countries like South Korea, India, and Argentina are building up their biopharmaceutical industries with the help of laws that are tailored to their specific needs. Turkey needs to keep up with this global change and build up its own biopharmaceutical capacity in order to stay competitive. Like the defense industry, it is becoming more and more important for Turkey to create and make its own biopharmaceuticals in line with its national interests.

Pelotek Sourcing is a key player in this landscape. We connect importers with reliable manufacturers by using our experience and knowledge. Through our product sourcing services, we try to make connections that are smooth and good for both parties. This way, you can benefit from the outstanding achievements of Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Our pillar post titled “Manufacturing in Turkey: A Full Overview” presents the top 10 industries involved in manufacturing in Turkey. My next post in this category is “Turkish Office Furniture Manufacturers.”

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