Sanofi and Birgi Mefar to Carry Out New Technology Transfer Investment

Sanofi has announced its decision to produce an antibiotic product that has reached TRY 22 million in revenue on the local market in Turkey. For this production project, which requires specialized technology and infrastructure, the company reached an agreement with Birgi Mefar. Within the framework of the cooperation agreement, production that Sanofi has previously carried out in Rome, the capital of Italy, will be transferred to Turkey with an investment of EUR 3 million. This will mark the first time this technology is transferred to another country, and as a further first, production will take place outside Sanofi's manufacturing network. The work is expected to be completed in 2021, and the production will aim to meet demand in Turkey and approximately 40 other countries. Sanofi Turkey Country President Cem Öztürk: "With our project, the entire world will use antibiotics we produce in Turkey. Our project, which we will implement with an investment exceeding EUR 3 million, will provide important services to Turkey's pharmaceutical industry in terms of both production and export. As a result of our investments, we will locally produce our product that has reached TRY 22 million in revenue in Turkey's antibiotic market. In addition to generating this value—equivalent to approximately one-quarter of the average turnover of a typical pharmaceutical company in Turkey's sector—we will also increase our domestic production ratio by 1.1 percent. Moreover, among approximately 40 countries where our product is present globally, we will conduct production in Turkey. With Sanofi's decision to meet its growing lyophilization capacity needs from Turkey, our antibiotic product will achieve an export volume initially five times the size of its total volume in the Turkey market. Through our project, we will thus create over TRY 500 million in local value added during the 2020-2026 period, contributing to our country's economic and structural transformation objectives. Additionally, with a reduction in imports exceeding TRY 100 million and a contribution to total pharmaceutical exports approaching TRY 300 million, we will also contribute to reducing Turkey's foreign trade deficit. We are confident that with our project partner Birgi Mefar, in a shared vision, we will successfully carry out work that will be cited as an international example. As we have been for 60 years, we will continue to advance and strengthen together with all of Turkey as a reliable partner in our country's healthcare sector.''

Birgi Mefar Group CEO Faik Somer: ''As Birgi Mefar Group, we are working for the development of Turkey's pharmaceutical industry.

Our Group has adopted an innovative approach since its establishment and today continues its journey as a solution partner for many national and international institutions, guided by strong principles such as long-term business partnerships, 100 percent customer satisfaction, and environmental awareness. Today, our company Mefar, which serves business partners from 37 countries with next-generation technology, represents our Group's values and global business practices in our country. With the strong and quality production provided by our factory, which holds GMP certificates from more than 10 countries, we make important contributions to the healthcare sector. We also have a privileged cooperation with Sanofi that we have successfully conducted over the past 10 years within this scope. In 2010, we initiated Turkey's first biotechnology and know-how transfer investment and produced over 50 million doses of 4-in-1 and 5-in-1 vaccines in Turkey. We are greatly pleased to strengthen this ongoing cooperation and bring new value to our country together with Sanofi Turkey. We are fully confident that this technology transfer investment will serve our country in many areas, from research and development to employment, from production to export.'' he stated.