SK Plasma is moving forward with a local pharmaceutical self-sufficiency project, building a plasma-derived medicine production plant in Türkiye.
SK Plasma held a groundbreaking ceremony for the plasma-derived medicine production plant in the Cubuk district of Ankara, Türkiye, on Aug. 11, the company said Friday.
The project follows a shareholders' agreement signed last year between SK Plasma and the Turkish Red Crescent. Proturk, the joint venture established by both sides, will build a plasma-derived medicine production facility with a total floor area of 36,000 square meters.
The plant will be built with the capacity to process 600,000 liters of plasma annually. It will produce albumin (ABM), immunoglobulin (IVIG), and blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII), among others. The company is targeting completion in the second half of 2028 and commercial production in 2030.
Plasma-derived medicines are designated as essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO) and are used to treat severe diseases such as immunodeficiency disorders and hemophilia. Türkiye currently relies on imports for a significant portion of these medicines, so the plant is expected to contribute to supply stability and improved pharmaceutical self-sufficiency once completed.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in conjunction with an event commemorating the 158th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Red Crescent. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also attended via video, expressing his support for the project.
SK Plasma is participating as a major shareholder and technology partner in Proturk. It will support the transfer of core plasma fractionation technology, along with the construction of production facilities, the establishment of quality control systems, and the training of local personnel. The company will receive technology fees while also holding a 15% stake to participate in the management of the joint venture.
Until commercial production begins, the company also plans to run a contract manufacturing (CMO) business, fractionating plasma secured in Türkiye at its Andong plant in North Gyeongsang Province and supplying it in finished product form.
With this project as a starting point, SK Plasma plans to build a global plasma-derived medicine production network connecting Korea, Indonesia, and Türkiye. Through this, the company's strategy is to enhance the supply stability of essential medicines while also expanding its entry into the European and Middle Eastern markets.
"Starting with the Türkiye self-sufficiency project, we will expand our global production bases to build a stable supply system and broaden the business scope of K-bio," SK Plasma CEO Kim Seung-joo stressed.
