Founded in 1983 by Pharmacist Erol Toksöz, Sanovel operates as a 100% domestic production-focused Turkish pharmaceutical company with 43 years of industry history. Headquartered in Istanbul Levent with an R&D Center and Production Campus in Silivri, the company employs approximately 2,000 people.
Sanovel CEO Hülya Yalın highlighted that international investor support confirms Turkey's manufacturing power in global markets. She clarified that strategic investments made since 2020 boosted production capabilities, R&D, employment, and exports. Yalın dismissed rumors regarding company transfers or undervalued sales, noting that administrative updates represent natural transformation steps for operational excellence and do not affect Sanovel's legal entity or operations.
Silivri Production Base, Product Portfolio, and R&D Strengths
Sanovel's portfolio consists entirely of prescription pharmaceuticals across acute and chronic therapeutic areas, including pain and inflammation, endocrinology and metabolism, gastrointestinal, hematology, hepatology, cardiovascular, multiple sclerosis (MS), neurology, and psychiatry. Featuring over 60 brands and more than 180 products, Sanovel holds over 400 licensed products. The Silivri campus employs roughly 800 team members across various dosage forms.
R&D and Patents: Operating with 80 scientists, the R&D Center (designed by German engineering firm PharmaPlan) develops combination products, novel dosage forms, and orally disintegrating tablets (ODT). Utilizing cGMP, cGLP, and Quality by Design (QbD) guidelines, Sanovel ranks among the top 3 companies across all Turkish industries in patent applications.
Global Approvals and Exports: Initiating exports in 2005, Sanovel exports to over 50 countries across 5 continents, holding over 400 approvals including US FDA, European EMA, and EU GMP certifications. Over 200 marketing authorizations are pending across existing and expansion markets, including the EU, US, Canada, MENA, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, LATAM, and CIS.
Financial Growth Figures and 2035 Oncology Strategy
According to IQVIA data, Sanovel expanded 10.5x in value and 1.5x in volume over the past 5 years. Exports grew nearly 4-fold, while annual production volume rose from 60 million to 91.5 million boxes, backed by $26 million in new equipment investments over the last 5 years.
In generic markets, Sanovel ranks 1st in diabetes, 2nd in cardiology, 2nd in MS (3rd overall), and 2nd overall in central nervous system treatments. Under its 2035 vision, the company aims to double its global reach, enter the top 10 companies in the domestic market, and develop localized oncology medications to lower currency outflows.
Sustainability and Employer Recognition
Following UN Global Compact principles, Sanovel achieved a 14.3% net reduction in its carbon footprint and a 13.9% net reduction in its water footprint in 2025. The firm provided professional coaching to 102 female students, received the Equal Opportunity Model Certificate, and was featured in Forbes Turkey and Statista's "Turkey's Best Employers 2026" list.
