Abdi İbrahim milestones
More than a century of history — from Abdi İbrahim Bey’s pharmacy, opened in Istanbul in 1912, to leadership of Türkiye’s pharmaceutical sector.
The company’s story began in 1912 at Abdi İbrahim Bey’s pharmacy in Küçük Mustafapaşa, Istanbul.
In the pharmacy’s modest laboratory, Abdi İbrahim Bey began making sanitary and hygiene products, castor oil and similar preparations, and became the second pharmacist, after Agop Şahinyan, to prepare galenic preparations. As head of the Military Medical Depot in Sarayburnu during the First World War, he produced pressed absorbent cotton for the first time.
Abdi İbrahim Bey sold the pharmacy and opened a laboratory in Mahmutpaşa, fitted with state-of-the-art equipment from Europe, where he continued to produce preparations and tablets.
The laboratory moved to the Çemberlitaş district, making Abdi İbrahim Bey one of the first pharmacists in Türkiye to open his own laboratory. After his sudden death that same year, his wife Fatma Mehveş Barut took over the management of the business.
Fatma Mehveş Barut’s son, İbrahim Hayri Barut, graduated from Istanbul University and was appointed head of the business. He renamed the laboratory “Abdi İbrahim Barut Tıbbi Ecza Laboratuvarı” and focused on the production of medicines.
Following technical upgrades, production of 100 types of ampoule products began in the 400 m² laboratory in Çemberlitaş; the workforce grew to 30.
Industrial-scale production began in a new building in the Vefa district, built with İbrahim Hayri Barut’s own funds.
After İbrahim Hayri Barut’s sudden death, his wife Belma Barut entrusted the management of the company to gynaecologist Mekin Alpay.
Under Mekin Alpay, the product range expanded to include medicines from well-known manufacturers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France.
Abdi İbrahim became a joint-stock company and took its present name, largely thanks to Ahmet Kamil Esirtgen.
Nezih Barut and Nesrin Barut Esirtgen took over the management of the company. Abdi İbrahim became the Turkish representative of nearly 30 international companies, and its product range grew to 150 products.
The headquarters and administrative units moved to Zincirlikuyu.
Foundations were laid for the Esenyurt production complex.
The Esenyurt production complex was commissioned in line with cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.
Abdi İbrahim became the sector leader in unit sales.
Abdi İbrahim achieved sector leadership in both turnover and unit sales, and construction of its R&D centre began.
Abdi İbrahim became the first Turkish company to be listed among the “World’s 100 Largest Pharmaceutical Companies”. The Abdi İbrahim Primary School opened — the company’s first social responsibility project in education.
The first pharmaceutical R&D centre accredited by Türkiye’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Industry was opened.
The Abdi İbrahim Techno-Logistics Centre became operational at the Esenyurt complex in Istanbul, and Abdi Farma was established in Portugal.
Abdi İbrahim published its first UN Global Compact progress report.
Abdi İbrahim celebrated its 100th anniversary by launching the Smart Pharmaceuticals Project on the uncontrolled use of medicines and the Van Gogh Alive digital art exhibition. In partnership with Japan’s Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Abdi İbrahim Otsuka (AIO) was established in Türkiye.Abdi Ibrahim Global Pharm (AIGP) was founded when Abdi İbrahim acquired a 60% stake in Global Pharm, one of Kazakhstan’s largest companies.
The Belma Barut Primary School opened.
Abdi İbrahim Remede Pharma (AIRP) was founded in Algeria through the acquisition of a 50% stake in Remede, one of Algeria’s leading pharmaceutical companies, and the company began investing in the construction of the country’s most modern pharmaceutical plant.
Abdi İbrahim laid the foundations of AbdiBio, Türkiye’s largest biotechnology drug manufacturing facility. The restoration project for the hospital section of the Health Museum at the Sultan Bayezid II Social Complex (Trakya University) was completed.The Abdi Ibrahim Global Pharm production facility in Kazakhstan began operations.
Construction began on sterile ophthalmic and sterile inhalation production facilities and a hormone production facility. The Abdi İbrahim Remede Pharma plant in Algeria began operations.
AbdiBio, Türkiye’s largest biotechnology drug production facility, opened. Foundations were laid for the sterile injectables and oncology production facilities, and the hormone production facility began operations.
Abdi İbrahim created its HEAL2030 sustainability strategy; under its environmental pillar, all production facilities at the Esenyurt production complex switched to 100% renewable electricity. By acquiring a 28.5% stake in Switzerland’s OM Pharma, Abdi İbrahim became the first Turkish pharmaceutical company to participate in the management of a European pharmaceutical company.
The Abdi İbrahim Foundation was established, working in education, sport, health and care.
The Abdi İbrahim Foundation House of Kindness opened in Vefa, providing accommodation for children who come to Istanbul with their families for cancer treatment but have difficulty finding a place to stay for financial reasons.
Abdi İbrahim secured a place on the A List of the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) Climate Change programme.