Abdi İbrahim Opens Türkiye's Largest Biotechnological Drug Production Facility, Lays Foundation for Two More Investments

Production Begins at AbdiBio

Abdi İbrahim, leader of Turkey's pharmaceutical sector operating for 106 years with a mission to improve lives it touches, formally inaugurated AbdiBio, Turkey's largest biotechnological pharmaceutical production facility. At the ceremony, in addition to the opening of AbdiBio completed with a TRY 400 million investment, the groundbreaking for Sterile Injectable and Oncology Production Facilities to be implemented with a TRY 600 million investment was also held. The opening and groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, Member of Parliament from Bursa and former Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Hakkı Gürsöz, Chairman of Turkey's Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Institution, Abdi İbrahim Board Chairman Nezih Barut, Vice Chairman Nesrin Barut Esirtgen, Board Member Ahmet Kamil Esirtgen, Executive Committee & Board Member Cenan Esirtgen, Esenyurt Mayor Ali Murat Alatepe, and representatives from the business world. In his remarks, Nezih Barut stated that AbdiBio would play a role in reducing imports of biotechnological products and increasing exports, thus contributing to narrowing the current account deficit. "The total investment amount of our Esenyurt production complex is TRY 2.5 billion. Together with our overseas investments, this figure reached TRY 3 billion. Our greatest desire is to serve the development of our sector and, most importantly, to repay the debt we owe to the land where we were born and raised. As a company, we measure our value by our contribution to our country. With this belief, just as we have done until now, we will continue to add value to both our company and our country's economy by making more investments, producing more, achieving more exports, and providing more employment."

AbdiBio, the biotechnological pharmaceutical production facility brought to life by Abdi İbrahim with a TRY 400 million investment, which has worked with passion for 106 years to develop innovative products and services and courageous pioneering initiatives to improve the lives it touches, was inaugurated with the participation of Bursa Member of Parliament and former Minister of Labour and Social Security Dr. Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, Chairman of Turkey's Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Institution Dr. Hakkı Gürsöz, Abdi İbrahim Board Chairman Nezih Barut, Vice Chairman Nesrin Barut Esirtgen, Board Member Ahmet Kamil Esirtgen, Executive Committee & Board Member Cenan Esirtgen, Esenyurt Mayor Ali Murat Alatepe and important figures from the business world.

AbdiBio, built on a total of 13,000 square meters of enclosed space and operating with an annual production capacity of 11 million vials, 9 million syringes, 22 million cartridges and 1 million lyophilized units, holds the distinction of being Turkey's largest biotechnological pharmaceutical production facility.

At the ceremony where AbdiBio, completed with a TRY 400 million investment, was inaugurated, the groundbreaking for Sterile Injectable and Oncology Production Facilities to be implemented with a total TRY 600 million investment was also held.

Nezih Barut: "We are living a historic moment for our country and sector"

Board Chairman Nezih Barut, speaking at the AbdiBio opening ceremony, said that as one of Turkey's most established industrial enterprises, they continue to make investments that add value to the pharmaceutical sector and Turkey's economy.

Noting that they take pride in laying the groundstone for two new investments, Sterile Injectable and Oncology Production Facilities, together with the opening of AbdiBio, Barut said, "As Abdi İbrahim, through our bold moves, our responsibility to our country and our passion for our work, we have become a company that leads the pharmaceutical sector, always raising the bar.

Believing in the potential of the Turkish pharmaceutical sector, which has our contribution at its foundation, in our country's strength and future, we have continuously increased our investments and continue to do so. AbdiBio is a major achievement that demonstrates this belief."

"We will conduct world-standard production at AbdiBio"

Emphasizing that significant change and transformation is occurring in the pharmaceutical sector worldwide and in Turkey, and that biotechnology is at the center of this change, Nezih Barut said, "Biotechnological methods are becoming increasingly effective in developing new medicines against diseases.

AbdiBio reflects Abdi İbrahim's vision regarding this transformation occurring in the pharmaceutical sector. This vision will not only increase our company's competitive strength but also that of the Turkish pharmaceutical sector. This investment will add value to our entire sector."

Stating that according to IQVIA data, 6 of the top 10 most valuable drugs in the world and 9 in Turkey are biotechnological, Barut spoke as follows:

"The market share of biotechnological drugs is 27 percent worldwide and 22 percent in Turkey. In the coming years, the biotechnological drug market worldwide is expected to grow beyond other products. In such an environment, as Turkey's leading pharmaceutical company, we wanted to be a pioneer in the biotechnology field as well.

AbdiBio, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, demonstrates Abdi İbrahim's determination and objectives in the biotechnology field, and holds the distinction of being Turkey's largest biotechnological pharmaceutical production facility with a TRY 400 million investment. We will conduct world-standard production at this facility.

We will implement all production processes from cell banking through to the final product at this factory. We will produce biotechnological products used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, rheumatism, central nervous system disorders, eye and blood diseases.

In addition to making these medicines available for use in Turkey, we will also export them abroad. Additionally, through this facility, we will meet the production needs of different companies.

All these activities will play a role in reducing biotechnological product imports and increasing exports, thus contributing to our economy's current account deficit, one of the most fundamental issues on our agenda.

The results we will achieve with our AbdiBio investment will make an important contribution to the localization initiative in pharmaceuticals launched by our government, which we as a company also strongly support."

"AbdiBio will be a know-how center in biotechnology"

Emphasizing the scarcity of qualified human resources in the biotechnology field, Nezih Barut said that AbdiBio will benefit qualified employment in this field, which requires meticulous expertise.

Noting that while they will effectively involve domestic human resources in the process, they will train new specialists while also becoming a know-how center with the contributions of experts from abroad, Barut stated that 250 specialists will work at the new facility within two years.

Barut said, "With this facility, I can say we have taken a very strong step toward our biggest ideal in the larger picture, Turkey's goal of becoming a global player in pharmaceuticals. But we cannot stop here. Turkey's major leap in pharmaceuticals depends on finding a molecule.

After bringing this facility to life as Abdi İbrahim, the target we will now focus on is molecule discovery. We want to be a pioneer in this field as well."

Emphasizing that Abdi İbrahim's share of Turkish pharmaceutical sector R&D spending is at the 16 percent level, and that with this share they are positioned as the company allocating the most resources to R&D, Barut said, "I hope that these and similar investments will enable us to reach economic scales that will allow us to allocate far more resources to R&D.

As Abdi İbrahim, we are accustomed to thinking big and pursuing big goals. We have set our 2020 vision as being among the world's top 100 pharmaceutical companies. For this, we are continuing our investments without interruption."

"The two new facilities we are groundbreaking will begin production in 2020"

Noting that they will begin production at the Sterile Injectable and Oncology Production Facilities, to be implemented with a total TRY 600 million investment, in 2020, Barut said, "The investment process for our Ophthalmology division located in our production complex is nearing completion.

At this production facility with an investment amount of TRY 240 million, ophthalmic products, most of which are currently imported, will now be produced in Turkey. Similarly, our Hormone Production Department with an investment of TRY 18 million will also become operational this year.

The total investment amount of our Esenyurt production complex is TRY 2.5 billion. Together with our overseas investments, this figure reached TRY 3 billion."

"Our workforce will reach 4,500 employees by the end of 2018"

Stating that as a 100 percent Turkish-owned company they have been leaders for 16 years in both turnover and unit basis, that they have established the region's most modern facilities in Kazakhstan and Algeria and begun production, and that they operate with their own structures in 12 countries, Barut noted that they export their products to a total of 50 countries across a wide geography from European Union countries to Canada, from North Africa to Asia. Emphasizing that they are targeting 32 percent growth in exports and overseas revenues in 2018, Nezih Barut concluded his remarks as follows: "We love our country and in every threat our country faces, we support the struggle with our production and employment capacity. Since the treacherous coup attempt of 15 July alone, the number of people we have newly employed has reached 1,175. Abdi İbrahim currently has 4,000 employees including overseas markets. By the end of 2018, we will increase this number to 4,500, thus maintaining our title of being the pharmaceutical company that provides the most employment in the Turkish pharmaceutical sector. Our greatest desire is to serve the development of our sector and, most importantly, to repay the debt we owe to the land where we were born and raised. As a company, we measure our value by our contribution to our country. With this belief, just as we have done until now, we will continue to add value to both our company and our country's economy by making more investments, producing more, achieving more exports, and providing more employment."