Abdi İbrahim Continues Investments in Biotechnology

Abdi İbrahim continues to invest steadily and decisively in the biotechnology field. The company announced a technology transfer agreement with mAbxience, a Spanish company among the world's leading biosimilar drug developers, to produce a cancer treatment drug that has been imported until now within AbdiBio. Abdi İbrahim Board Chairman Nezih Barut emphasized that the technology transfer in question will be a first for Turkey from cell to final product in this field, stating: "With AbdiBio, Turkey's largest biotechnological pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, we aim to have a presence not only in our country but also in world markets. Through this agreement, which marks a critical threshold in Abdi İbrahim's aspirations to be a leader in the biotechnology field, we will implement the production in Turkey of a much-needed cancer drug that is currently imported, starting from the cell stage." The technology transfer that will enable the production in Turkey of the drug used in metastatic colorectal cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (the most common and most difficult-to-treat brain tumor among brain tumors) and cervical cancer treatment will be "from the cell onwards"—that is, the production of direct monoclonal antibody (mab) molecules—marking a first for Turkey in the biotechnology field. Abdi İbrahim will localize this biotechnology product, which holds a critical position in Turkey, through all stages. With the production of the product in Turkey, a contribution will be made to the economy, while supply problems encountered with imported products will be overcome, easing patient access to the drug. Technology transfer work for the product's production in the country is planned to begin in 2024, with market introduction in Turkey targeted for mid-2026.

A turning point in Abdi İbrahim's biotechnology vision

Abdi İbrahim Board Chairman Nezih Barut made the following statement on the matter:

"Our licensor partnership with mAbxience, whose products are used in more than 100 countries around the world, has been ongoing since 2012. In biotechnology products, the most critical stage is the process of obtaining protein from cells. Through this technology transfer, by producing the protein ourselves, we are localizing a biotechnology product in all its stages. Production capability from the cell stage onwards is an extremely critical step because it reduces dependence on external sources for pharmaceutical raw materials and contributes positively to the country's economy. This agreement is extremely important both for the Turkish pharmaceutical sector and as a turning point in Abdi İbrahim's journey to becoming a leading company in the biotechnology field."

Nezih Barut continued his remarks as follows:

"At AbdiBio, we work with our globally experienced teams. With the characteristic of being Turkey's largest biotechnological pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, AbdiBio aims to have a presence not only in our country but also in world markets through production carried out at global standards. We view this agreement as an important turning point within the framework of this goal. Imported drugs, which represent only 10 percent of volume by package, account for 45 percent in value terms in our country's pharmaceutical market. The share of imported biotechnological drugs within total imported drugs is 37 percent. Approximately TRY 18 billion is spent on imported biotechnological drugs in our country. As a result of the technology transfer agreement, which will be a first for 'mab' products due to its cell-stage nature, when we transition to domestic production, we aim for a significant reduction in the imports of the aforementioned cancer drug and improved patient access to the medication. As Abdi İbrahim, we will continue to be pioneers in our journey toward the future and improving lives."

mAbxience Global Commercial Director Jurgen Van Broeck made the following statement regarding the matter:

"Our partnership with Abdi İbrahim is an important step in our commitment to expanding our biotechnology expertise on a global scale. The technology transfer we will implement represents a major leap in biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. As mAbxience, with our GMP-approved facilities in Europe and South America, we hold a pioneering position in providing integrated bio-manufacturing solutions at the global level. We believe that the company's experience in CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization), cell line development, process development and large-scale manufacturing will play an important role in this partnership. We are excited to bring this level of innovation and self-sufficiency in the biopharmaceutical field to Turkey."