How is Sanofi Turkey different from its corporate Sanofi counterparts around the globe?
Turkey is emerging as a market with huge growth opportunities. All five of Sanofi’s global business units are present in Turkey. With an investment of US$1 billion, Sanofi Turkey has the largest pharmaceutical production site in Turkey. Our site in Lüleburgaz produces one out of every seven local drugs in pharmacies, accounting for 14% of the total Turkish pharmaceutical production. We also provide manufacturing services for 22 national and multinational pharmaceutical companies in Turkey.

What advantages does Turkey enjoy as a manufacturing base for Sanofi?

Sanofi believes in Turkey’s potential among the emerging markets. Looking at Turkey, first from a demographic perspective, the average age in Turkey is 31. Turkey has an educated, knowledgeable and dedicated workforce, and the country is also strategically and almost perfectly placed between Europe and Asia. Looking at the past performance of the Turkish market, the growth rate of the market has been measured at an average of 6% per year despite the recent economic crisis. The pharma market in Turkey is quite dynamic and the market performance in the last couple of years inspires hope for the future.  Total pharmaceutical market is €6 billion with double-digit growth of 26% in local currency in 2018 and predicted continued growth for the next three years. There is a big transformation occurring in the Turkish pharma industry and healthcare system with strong focus on drug pricing.  As Sanofi, we believe that it is imperative to reward and prioritize innovation in the Turkish pharma industry in order to realize sustainable growth, a more competitive investment climate and added value for the economy in Turkey.

Does the current localization policy in Turkey influence the dynamics between local and international companies like Sanofi?

With our 60 years of presence, high localization rate and strong footprint in Turkey, we prioritize projects and cooperation opportunities that will provide added value to our country. In this respect, we believe in the importance of prioritizing and rewarding innovations that could add value to public health and the country's economy for a healthier future.     

What are some of the future investment priorities for Sanofi Turkey?

We are continuously investing in our operations, both in manufacturing and in R&D. We have invested almost 300 million TL in R&D and clinical trials in the last 5 years. We also invest heavily in our local production capabilities. Out of the total production output volume, 86% of our Sanofi products portfolio is produced in Turkey. We continuously assess our current operations in the context of changing market demands and conditions. We have a strong portfolio in cardiology, diabetes, CNS and vaccines. We also have a very strong investment project in diabetes, and we are evaluating the rare disease segment.

Sanofi has a strong product pipeline globally with a focus on biological products, investing €6 billion every year in R&D. Currently, we have 81 projects in development, including new molecular entities and additional indications.

How is Sanofi adapting to the price regulation system in Turkey? 

Sanofi believes that the policies set in place by the Turkish government, with reference to the evolution of the reimbursement scheme, for example, have brought visible and progressive results over the last 10 years, such as a decrease in the mortality rate.

How do you believe the Turkish pharma and biopharma industry may be developing in coming years?

Sanofi hopes to drive the point that Turkey, as a market, is one of long-term investment. Turkey has been a trustworthy market to invest in – and we have invested approximately US$1 billionsince Sanofi's inception in the country. We have achieved considerable success so far in our efforts to grow our presence in Turkey and created added value for the country. Based on our long-term commitments in Turkey, we aim to increase our contribution and enhance our presence even further in the next couple of years.