Daiichi to launch center

İlker Özbay, general manager of the firm in Turkey, said Daiichi-Sankyo dedicates some 21 percent of its sales income in research and development, or R&D, whilst the average R&D expenditure in the sector stands at 15-17 percent. "Our center in Turkey is likely to be launched within the next five years," Özbay said yesterday in Istanbul.

The timing of the launch of Daiichi-Sankyo’s R&D center is not yet certain. "In addition to this center, we would also like to establish an independent production facility in Turkey for two of our products that are currently being manufactured here," Özbay said.

Expansion outside Japan
Daiichi-Sankyo currently markets six products in Turkey for cardiovascular, infectious and metabolic diseases, as well as osteoporosis and oncology. Some 400,000 chronically ill patients are estimated to be using the firm’s products in Turkey.

"Our goal is to be among the innovative and large pharmaceutical firms in the world and launch one new product each year in the next five years," Özbay said.

At present 60 percent of the company’s sales turnover originates from Japan, where the firm is the third-largest pharmaceuticals company. Sales in Europe and the United States make some 35 percent of the total sales volume. The firm’s aim is to increase its sales outside Japan to make 60 percent of its global sales income by 2015.

Daiichi-Sankyo’s global turnover in 2008 stood at 5.5 billion euros, of which the firm’s operations in Turkey contributed some 15 million euros. The firm operates in 61 countries, including 12 in Europe. "We should note that this is our business volume for the very first year of operations in Turkey," Özbay said. "Our second year here is likely to yield very different results as new products are likely to increase sales."

On the other hand, the current turbulence in global markets is leading to somewhat tighter profit margins, Özbay said.