Please introduce Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals?

Right after establishment in 2000, Tüm Ekip started to develop generic formulations and to obtain registrations. In 2009, the company opened its first production facility. From there, we expanded our capacities and capabilities year on year. Today, we are the only company specialized in injectable pharmaceuticals in Turkey and the only company which has seven different forms of injectables - powder, liquid, lyophilized powder, SVP, LVP, PVC, and non-PVC bag. We are also the only company in Turkey who has a dedicated sterile carbapenem production facility. With the opening of our dedicated injectable penicillin facility in 2014, we became the first and only Turkish company who has three dedicated and separated Beta lactam production facilities. Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals is one of the few companies which can produce sterile lyophilized vials and has recently opened a production facility focused on this space. We currently have approximately 110 products registered in Turkey as well as 25 in other countries worldwide.

How does Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals position itself in the Turkish and international markets?  

As per the IQVIA Hospital Index of 2018, Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals is ranked third in Turkey in the injectables space. We have a strong presence in the market, with significant production capacity. The company has a commitment to contribute to the general health consciousness in the regions where we operate, while growing our business through developing professional and social collaborations with related persons and organizations, giving priority to health professionals and our business partners and by producing creative solutions. We are concentrated on the pharmaceutical need of hospitals. As a research and development oriented generic pharmaceutical company, our R&D department has the main purpose to develop essentially similar pharmaceutical dosage forms needed in clinics and to present high quality, safe and affordable generic solutions, attaching paramount importance to quality and ensuring such quality during the design process. Our R&D department develops injectable dosage forms in compliance with the guidelines of International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

We are focussed on delivering products to hospitals and clinics based on their requirements and needs. Some our products are very unique in production as they do not have a big market share or a large price value but are still required for public health. We will produce these products to meet the demand of the industry as we are focused on contributing to the well-being of all. We do not only produce products for large markets but produce products where there is a need.

In the generic space, there seems to have been a shift away from antibiotics and acute therapies, to chronic disease. How has Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals responded to this trend?

There are fewer and fewer producers of antibiotics, especially in Europe, which presents a great opportunity for Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals. Looking at our product portfolio, the first products that we launched after the establishment of the company were penicillins. The market will always need antibiotics and we will continue to serve this market. The types of antibiotics that we produce include penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems, systemic antibacterials, systemic antimycotics, aminoglycoside antibacterials  and macrolides. New antibiotic solutions are always necessary as infections become resilient. We are focussed on continuously developing new products to contribute to the healthcare of patients.

Can you elaborate on your role on the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEiK)?

Turkey has different organizations to support exports as today the export market is seen as crucial by the government. Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEiK) is a private organization headed by the Minister of Commerce of Turkey. The organization is acting as a facilitator for international commerce for Turkey and we are developing business diplomacy worldwide. DEiK has approximately 145 country boards and I am a member of some of those boards and Vice President of the Pakistani board. There are also sector councils of which one is the health business council. Members of the health business council include hospitals, medical companies and pharmaceutical companies. The council arranges visits to different countries to promote Turkey and encourage knowledge transfer and export relationships.

I am also Vice President of SURDER. The organization has 84 members from different segments of the pharmaceutical industry. SURDER is playing an active role in forming government and international relations for the promotion of the pharmaceutical industry of Turkey.   

What is your prospect for Turkey as an exporting country in the pharmaceutical space?  

Turkey’s GMP regulations came into force in 1983. This has developed a great culture within the industry and has also created excellent professionals in the pharmaceutical industry. Turkey has a mature pharma industry and there are significant amount of companies with a history of over 100 years. Our pharmaceutical industry is 100% harmonized with the European industry standards. This is a great advantage for the country.

What are Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals’ objectives moving forward?

Tüm Ekip Pharmaceuticals has 110 local products and the aim is to have all these products registered internationally. The next goal will then be to reach 500 registrations worldwide. We already export to 20 countries, but we aim to significantly increase this number moving forward. We are currently in the process of launching some of our products in Europe. Another objective is to establish a production facility outside of Turkey to be able to more easily serve international markets. We will firstly look at expanding our footprint in Europe before further expanding worldwide. We will establish our presence where the investment is lucrative.

Do you have a final message for our international readership?

Turkey has a very strong understanding of pharmaceutical production. We have European standard facilities where we produce the best quality products. We are committed to make pharmaceutical products which are accessible as well as affordable to patients, and this gives Turkey its competitive advantage.