PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN TURKEY

Production of pharmaceutical preparations done in pharmaceuticals laboratories between

1928 and 1950 had increased with the establishment of local and foreign invested plants

starting from the year 1952, which is the start of the “fabrication period” of the Turkish

pharmaceuticals industry.

Within the period after 1984 up to the present, investments of foreign capital companies

have increased and especially after the year 1990, 19 foreign capital firms have entered

into Turkish pharmaceuticals market.

Today, there are 53 manufacturing facilities and approximately 300 entities operating in

the sector in Turkey. 39 of the manufacturing facilities are local firms. On the other hand,

14 of the manufacturing facilities and 134 of the entities are owned by multinational firms.

Pharmaceutical industry has a production structure comprised of high level of technology

and automation. Approximately 25.000 people are employed in the sector.

Pharmaceuticals industry, due to its nature, is one of the industries which has a high

proportion of personnel with university education (50%).

Turkish pharmaceutical industry is mainly located in the Marmara Region especially in

provinces of Istanbul, Kocaeli and Tekirdağ. This is mainly due to the better infrastructure,

ease of supply in packaging materials and technical personnel, telecommunication and

transportation facilities and the existence of a high number of health institutions in the

region.

The Turkish pharmaceutical industry has a well-organized structure. Most of the

manufacturers and exporters have been organized under the roof of “The Pharmaceutical

Manufacturers Association of Turkey” (İlaç Endüstrisi İşverenler Sendikası).

PRODUCTION

Pharmaceutical production trends are closely related to domestic and foreign demand.

There were 7.413 pharmaceutical products on the market in 2009 out of which 4.928 were

prescribed products. In 2011, these numbers were changed to 7.823 pharmaceutical

products on the market out of which 5.264 were prescribed products.

In 2011, 64,3% of pharmaceuticals were local on Turkish pharmaceutical market. 21,7% of

these were reference and 78,3% were generics. In 2011, the market for prescribed

products has increased by 1,4% in value and became 14 billion US$. In terms of the drugs

in boxes, the prescribed market has increased to 1,56 billion boxes with an increase rate

of 9,1%.

In 2008, there were 1.350 hospitals in Turkey with a total bed capacity of 188.065. An

important new trend is receiving incoming patients from the European (mainly the United

Kingdom) or Middle East countries for treatment in Turkish private hospitals.

In 2011, Turkey ranked as 6th in Europe and 14th in the world with its pharmaceuticals

market which accounted for 10,4 billion US$. Turkey targets to be ranked as 10th biggest

country in the pharmaceuticals market. In terms of the number of Clinical Research

Centers, Turkey ranks as 34th in the world.

© Republic of Turkey – Ministry of Economy, 2012 3

Certain Turkish companies have started developing new products. İlsan İltaş has a sound

worldwide know-how and technology in pellet development and production. The company

has got process patents for omeprazol pellet production in Europe, Canada and South

Korea, and has also been granted FDA approval for the finished product. Another

company, Mustafa Nevzat plants have been approved for the API and finished dosage

forms by FDA. This is also a “first” for the Turkish Pharmaceutical Industry. Mustafa

Nevzat signed strategic partnership agreements with several leading US generic

companies for marketing and sales of its products.

Pharmaceutical consumption in Turkey, by therapeutic class, includes antibiotics,

cardiovasculars, antirheumatics, nervous systemics and oncologics.

The production of raw materials in Turkey concentrates on the active ingredients of

antibiotics and analgesics, by using the methods of fermentation, extraction and synthesis.

Within the Turkish pharmaceutical raw materials sector, 11 plants are owned by the private

sector.

The production and marketing of all pharmaceuticals in Turkey are obliged to be

authorized by the Turkish Ministry of Health, and pharmaceutical products and firms must

be registered in the Ministry.

The Turkish government has implemented a number of regulations to bring its

pharmaceutical laws into line with those in the EU.

􀂃 Patent protection

􀂃 Data exclusivity

􀂃 Pricing

􀂃 Registration

􀂃 Good Manufacturing Practices(GMP)

􀂃 Good Laboratory Practices (GLP)

􀂃 Good Clinical Practices (GCP)

􀂃 Bioavailability / Bioequivalency

􀂃 Packaging Labelling

􀂃 Promotion / Advertising

􀂃 Drug Research and Medicinal Product Registration

􀂃 Stability Requirements

􀂃 Regulation on Good Distribution and Storage Practices

􀂃 Pharmacovigilance

Since 1995, pharmaceutical manufacturers have to abide by regulations specifying Good

Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Clinical

Practices (GCP) requiring significant investment by local industry companies. The

necessary investments for the development of technology in the industry have been

accelerated and today the production technology of the Turkish pharmaceutical industry

has reached world standards.

© Republic of Turkey – Ministry of Economy, 2012 4

EXPORTS

Turkish exports have shown a steady increase in recent years. In 2011, the total value of

the pharmaceuticals exports reached US $ 620 million.

Turkey is now exporting various pharmaceutical products to 144 countries including

developed countries like Switzerland, Germany, the UK, the USA, Belgium and France.

USEFUL LINKS

􀂃 Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD)

www.aifd.org.tr/

􀂃 Pharmaceutical Industry Association of Turkey (TISD)

www.tisd.org.tr/

􀂃 Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association of Turkey (IEIS)

www.ieis.org.tr

News Portal

􀂃 www.habermedical.com/tag/arastirmaci-ilac-firmalari-dernegi

􀂃 www.esdegerilac.com

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