Santa Farma
Santa Farma is a Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1944 that develops, produces, and distributes generic and branded medicines across 10 therapeutic areas from its EU-GMP certified Kocaeli facility, selling to physicians, pharmacists, and global pharma partners across 65+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1944
- HeadquartersSisli
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Santa Farma does
Santa Farma İlaç Sanayii A.Ş. is a privately held Turkish pharmaceutical company founded in 1944 and majority-controlled by the Kiresepi family, with Erol Kiresepi serving as Chairman and Sami Kiresepi as CEO. The company develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products across 10 therapeutic areas — Dermatology, Gastrointestinal System & Metabolism, Hematology, Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Central Nervous System, Respiratory, Urogenital, Endocrine & Metabolism, and Anti-infectives — with a portfolio of 56 brands and 127 products in 133 dosage forms. Its EU-GMP certified manufacturing facility at GEBKİM OSB in Dilovası, Kocaeli (44,000 m², €150 million invested, 150 million units per shift capacity) supports solid, semi-solid, and liquid formulations and serves as a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) for global pharmaceutical companies.
The business operates three revenue streams: (1) branded pharmaceutical product sales through Turkey's pharmacy distribution network and a physician-directed sales force; (2) international sales across 65+ countries via distribution partnerships, out-licensing, and co-development agreements, anchored by a core strategic partnership with MEALIS Middle East Life Sciences; and (3) contract manufacturing services leveraging EU-GMP certification, Track&Trace serialization, and flexible pilot-to-large-scale production for global pharma clients. R&D is a core capability, with the company holding Turkey's leading European Patent registration count in the pharmaceutical sector and 71 products in development pipeline.
Santa Farma employs over 1,100 people, is ranked 7th among pharmaceutical companies in Turkey's ISO Top 500 Industrial Enterprises survey, and in December 2024 launched its first generic product in the European Union — a landmark geographic expansion enabled by its 4th EU-GMP certification. Distribution is healthcare-professional-driven and subject to Turkey's regulatory pricing framework; the company markets to physicians and pharmacists rather than directly to consumers, with its website restricted to healthcare professionals.
Santa Farma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Santa Farma
- Legal name
- Santa Farma İlaç Sanayii A.Ş.
- Website
- https://santafarma.com.tr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1944
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Santa Farma is a Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer founded in 1944 that develops, produces, and distributes generic and branded medicines across 10 therapeutic areas from its EU-GMP certified Kocaeli facility, selling to physicians, pharmacists, and global pharma partners across 65+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Santa Farma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (424210)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contract Development & Manufacturing for Generics (CDMO/CMO) (HLAIABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)
Keywords
Where Santa Farma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sisli
Offices2 records
Markets served
Santa Farma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Santa Farma generates revenue through the sale of its proprietary pharmaceutical products across 10 therapeutic areas (Dermatology, Gastrointestinal System & Metabolism, Hematology, Cardiovascular System, Musculoskeletal System, Central Nervous System, Respiratory System, Urogenital System, Endocrine & Metabolism, Anti-infectives) with 56 brands and 127 products.
- Contract Manufacturing (CMO): The company serves as a contract manufacturing organization for global pharmaceutical companies, offering manufacturing capabilities for solid, semi-solid, and liquid pharmaceutical forms. This includes pilot to large scale production and technical transfer services.
- Licensing (In-licensing & Out-licensing): Santa Farma engages in both in-licensing (acquiring rights to distribute products from other companies in Turkey) and out-licensing (granting rights to its products to partners like Mealis for specific markets and therapeutic areas).
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Santa Farma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Santa Farma develops, manufactures, and markets a pharmaceutical portfolio of 56 brands and 127 products across 10 therapeutic areas at its EU-GMP certified GEBKİM OSB facility in Kocaeli. The company also offers contract manufacturing (CMO) services for global pharma firms and operates international out-licensing, co-development, and distribution partnerships across 65+ countries.
Product overview
Santa Farma is a pharmaceutical company founded in 1944 that develops, manufactures, exports, imports, markets and sells pharmaceutical products. The company operates a single unified manufacturing and commercialization platform with 56 brands and 127 products across 10 therapeutic categories (Dermatology, Digestive System, Gastroenterology and Infection, Hematology, Cardiovascular System, Musculoskeletal System, Nervous System, Respiratory System, Urogenital System, Endocrine and Metabolism). The product portfolio includes solid forms (tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets), semi-solid forms (gels, ointments, creams), and liquid forms (syrups, sprays, drops). Santa Farma also provides contract manufacturing services, international market partnerships including distributorship, out-licensing, and co-development. The company operates its EU-GMP certified Gebkim Manufacturing Facility in Dilovası, Kocaeli with 150 million units per shift capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EKOL: Internal communication, event, entertainment and interaction platform and brand connecting Santa Farma employees across Turkey
Products and services
- Pharmaceutical Products Portfolio Comprehensive pharmaceutical product portfolio comprising 56 brands and 127 products across 10 therapeutic areas, including solid forms (tablets, capsules, effervescent tablets), semi-solid forms (gels, ointments, creams), and liquid forms (syrups, sprays, drops). Sold to pharmacies, healthcare institutions, and distribution partners in Turkey and 65+ countries.
- Contract Manufacturing Services (CMO) Contract manufacturing services for global pharmaceutical companies offering EU-GMP certified manufacturing capabilities for solid, semi-solid, and liquid pharmaceutical forms. Offers flexibility from pilot to large scale production with 150 million units per shift capacity across 44,000 m2 production area, including technical transfer and commercial packaging solutions.
- Out-Licensing Services Out-licensing partnerships granting partner companies rights to market and distribute Santa Farma pharmaceutical products in specified territories. The company engages in international out-licensing as part of its 65+ country distribution strategy.
- Co-Development Services Co-development partnerships for pharmaceutical products, collaborating with partners on product development, scale-up production, and technical transfer requirements across therapeutic areas.
- International Distributorship Services International distributorship partnerships enabling partners to distribute pharmaceutical products across multiple territories, supporting Santa Farma's commercial presence in 65+ countries through regional partners.
- First Generic Product in European Union Santa Farma's first generic pharmaceutical product launched in the European Union market in December 2024, leveraging the company's EU-GMP certified manufacturing capability and 80 years of pharmaceutical industry experience.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked 7th among largest pharmaceutical companies in Turkey's Top 500 Industrial Enterprises by ISO
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Santa Farma
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Santa Farma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Santa Farma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor and core.
- AdvancostrategicStrategic collaboration for manufacturing process efficiency. Advanco provides technology solutions to enhance Santa Farma's production processes and operational efficiency at the GEBKİM OSB manufacturing facility.
- Türk Diyabet Cemiyeti (Turkish Diabetes Association)minorCollaboration for World Diabetes Day activities including employee blood sugar screenings, educational seminars on diabetes awareness, and donation from Santa Farma employees to the association.
- HAÇİKO (Hayvanları Çaresizlik ve İlgisizlikten Koruma Derneği)minorDonation campaign where Santa Farma made donations in the name of 1,409 dermatologists to support the association's mission.
- Teknolojide Kadın Derneği (Wtech)minor'Sağlığın Dönüştüren Kadınları' (Women Transforming Health) project providing free training in Marketing and Sales Technologies, Business Analysis, and Gamification to 100 young women in STEM fields, with mentorship from Santa Farma executives.
- Kocaeli Üniversitesi (Kocaeli University)minorUniversity collaboration including participation in 'Spectrum' event organized by Chemistry Engineering Club, with Manufacturing Manager as guest speaker.
- Marmara Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Farmakademi KulübüminorPharMentorship program where Senior Medical Manager served as mentor and Training Coordinator provided SWOT Analysis training for pharmacy students.
- Koç Üniversitesi (Koç University)minorCareer Lab collaboration including case study activities, Leadership Development Program (Santa Farma Academy Leadership Faculty), and student engagement programs.
- MEALIS Türkiye (Ortadoğu Yaşam Bilimleri)coreStrategic sales, marketing, and distribution partnership. Initial agreement in 2020 for iron deficiency anemia and stress urinary incontinence products. Expanded in 2024 with diabetic neuropathy product (Memantin and Donepezil). MEALIS holds exclusive rights to market and distribute these products in Turkey. MEALIS operates in 35 countries across Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Santa Farma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pharmactive İlaç San. ve Tic. A.Ş. Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer focused on generics and branded generics with international registration presence. Comparable to Santa Farma in therapeutic breadth and export markets; Gonca Sivri Keskin served as International Markets Registration Manager at Pharmactive prior to joining Santa Farma.
- Deva Holding (EastPharma): Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer with branded generics, APIs, and international presence. Comparable to Santa Farma in therapeutic diversification, EU-GMP manufacturing, and export operations. Gonca Sivri Keskin (Santa Farma International Markets Registration Director) previously led international registration at Deva Holding.
- Abdi İbrahim İlaç Sanayi: Turkey's largest pharmaceutical company, manufacturing branded generics and operating across multiple therapeutic areas. Directly comparable to Santa Farma as a Turkish-headquartered pharma manufacturer with similar therapeutic breadth, export focus, and CMO capabilities. Multiple Santa Farma executives (e.g., Hakan Gürel, Dr. Ömür Tanyel) were previously employed at Abdi İbrahim.
- Humanis Sağlık A.Ş. Turkish pharmaceutical company with branded generics, biosimilars, and international markets operations. Comparable to Santa Farma in therapeutic portfolio breadth, EU export focus, and strategy/business development approach. Hakan Gürel served as Strategy, Business Development and International Markets Director at Humanis before joining Santa Farma.
- Eczacıbaşı İlaç Pazarlama: Major Turkish pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer with branded generics across multiple therapeutic areas. Directly comparable to Santa Farma in domestic Turkish market presence, therapeutic portfolio breadth, and export orientation. Bahar Velioğlu joined Santa Farma from Eczacıbaşı İlaç Pazarlama.
Broad incumbents
- Sandoz (Novartis): Global leader in generics and biosimilars with EU-GMP manufacturing, broad therapeutic portfolio, and presence in 100+ countries. Comparable to Santa Farma's EU-GMP CMO/CDMO capabilities and Turkish market presence, though at vastly greater scale. Represents both a competitive threat and a potential CMO customer for Santa Farma's facility.
- Aurobindo Pharma: Indian-headquartered global generics manufacturer with EU-GMP facilities, broad therapeutic portfolio, and significant CMO operations. Comparable to Santa Farma in EU-GMP manufacturing capabilities, generic formulation breadth, and emerging market distribution, though at substantially larger scale.
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: World's largest generics manufacturer with extensive EU manufacturing footprint, CMO/CDMO services, and broad therapeutic area coverage. Comparable to Santa Farma in generic manufacturing model and CMO offerings, but with significantly greater scale, geographic reach, and capital resources.
- Viatris: Global pharmaceutical company formed from Mylan-Upjohn combination with significant generics portfolio, manufacturing capabilities, and established presence in emerging markets including Turkey. Comparable to Santa Farma in generics manufacturing model and emerging market distribution, with much broader global scale.
Emerging players
- MEALIS Middle East Life Sciences: Regional pharmaceutical distributor operating in 35 countries across Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Directly comparable as Santa Farma's strategic distribution partner for specific products (iron deficiency anemia, stress urinary incontinence, diabetic neuropathy) in Turkey—represents the channel through which Santa Farma extends commercial reach without parallel salesforce investment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Santa Farma social profiles
Digital presenceSanta Farma compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Santa Farma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Santa Farma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Santa Farma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Santa Farma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Santa Farma
What does Santa Farma do?
Santa Farma develops, manufactures, and markets a pharmaceutical portfolio of 56 brands and 127 products across 10 therapeutic areas at its EU-GMP certified GEBKİM OSB facility in Kocaeli. The company also offers contract manufacturing (CMO) services for global pharma firms and operates international out-licensing, co-development, and distribution partnerships across 65+ countries.
Is Santa Farma a public or private company?
Santa Farma is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Santa Farma founded?
Santa Farma was founded in 1944. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Santa Farma based?
Santa Farma is headquartered in Sisli.
How does Santa Farma make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are contract Manufacturing (CMO) and licensing (In-licensing & Out-licensing).
Who are Santa Farma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pharmactive İlaç San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Deva Holding (EastPharma), Abdi İbrahim İlaç Sanayi, Humanis Sağlık A.Ş. and Eczacıbaşı İlaç Pazarlama. Broad incumbents are Sandoz (Novartis), Aurobindo Pharma, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Viatris. MEALIS Middle East Life Sciences is listed as an emerging player.
Does Santa Farma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Santa Farma.
What industry is Santa Farma in?
Santa Farma's product category is Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIABAI, Contract Development & Manufacturing for Generics (CDMO/CMO), with a secondary code of HLAIALAD, CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development). Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 5122.