Abdi İbrahim and GSK Türkiye Make Major Investment for Domestic Production of Respiratory Medicine

The Sterile Inhalation Facility, jointly developed by Abdi İbrahim and GSK Türkiye in collaboration with the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, commences operations.

The facility, built with an investment of TRY 340 million, will enable Türkiye to benefit from the advanced ‘nebule’ technology, which is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. The facility is the first in the world capable of manufacturing the complete range of GSK’s nebule portfolio.

The official inauguration ceremony of the Sterile Inhalation Facility, a joint project by GSK Türkiye and Abdi İbrahim, developed in collaboration with the Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, took place on Thursday, December 8 at the Abdi İbrahim Esenyurt Production Complex. With the culmination of the technology, know-how, and expertise of the two companies, the facility will contribute to the growth of domestic production of pharmaceuticals in Türkiye and produce 600 million nebules with a total value of TRY 2 billion within the next five years.

Abdi İbrahim, the leader of the Turkish pharmaceutical industry, is poised to make a great contribution to public health and the national economy by manufacturing pharmaceuticals developed using the nebule technology, a new treatment method pioneered by GSK and used in the treatment of respiratory conditions, at its Sterile Inhalation Facility located within the Abdi İbrahim Esenyurt Production Complex. This world-class facility, developed with a TRY 340-million investment, is GSK Türkiye’s single largest investment in the past decade and the only facility in the world capable of manufacturing the complete range of GSK’s nebule portfolio.

Selim Giray, GM of GSK Türkiye, said: “Respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD are among the leading challenges for public health in Türkiye and the world at large. Today, there are approximately eight million people in our country suffering from these conditions. With this milestone transfer of advanced technology and knowledge from GSK’s production facility in Australia to Türkiye, made possible by the efforts of our large team, we are proud to have created a world-class facility in Türkiye and paved the way for continued localization of pharmaceutical production. The Sterile Inhalation Facility we have inaugurated is the perfect symbol of our strong collaboration with Abdi İbrahim, which has continued for over 30 years. This major investment also serves as an important step in the transition from import to domestic production, and developing it together with Abdi İbrahim, a company that is a source of pride for our industry and country with their robust infrastructure and peerless know-how, has been a privilege. I hope that the facility will serve the nation well and contribute to the healing of millions of patients in the country.”

A key investment for national economy and the pharmaceutical industry

Dr. Süha Taşpolatoğlu, Abdi İbrahim CEO, noted the company’s commitment to serve the future as well as today by making investments towards the treatment needs of tomorrow, and highlighted the facility’s key importance for the industry and the national economy at large. “We have maintained a valuable business partnership with GSK for over 30 years, and this latest investment, which was developed in the span of four years, is the crowning achievement of our collaboration,” Dr. Taşpolatoğlu said. “This facility is the first of its kind in the world where the entire nebule portfolio of GSK will be produced. Respiratory medicine is a strategic area for Abdi İbrahim, and we boast an expansive portfolio of products to meet all needs. We are proud that GSK chose Abdi İbrahim as its partner for this investment. We believe in our country, our industry, our people, and our team. We are committed to our country’s ambition of becoming a key player in pharmaceuticals, and we will continue to play our role towards this goal in the future. I would like to express my gratitude to the Investment Office of the Presidency for their support and GSK for their valuable partnership. I hope our new Sterile Inhalation Facility will serve our industry and our country well.”

A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, Head of the Investment Office, commented: “Since 2003, there have been many reforms in Türkiye led by our President to incentivize investment and exports across a variety of areas, including life sciences, by supporting R&D and innovation. Türkiye is among the top 20 countries in the world in terms of the scale of its pharmaceutical industry, which is valued at USD 7 billion, and an attractive hub for the global healthcare ecosystem. The Investment Office focuses on high-value investments and remains committed to facilitating collaboration between Turkish companies and international enterprises that have the potential to contribute to the industry. This new facility, which will play a crucial role in domestic supply of respiratory medication, and the fact that it is the only facility in the world capable of producing GSK’s entire nebule portfolio, makes it a brilliant example that highlights our goal of transforming our country into a hub of production, R&D, and logistics. I would like to thank GSK and Abdi İbrahim for this TRY 340-million investment, and I hope it will serve Türkiye well.”