EVENT VETAŞ 40th ANNIVERSARY
AT ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY VETAŞ TARGETS EXPORT
VETAŞ A.Ş., one of Turkey’s greatest producers of animal health drugs celebrated its 40th
anniversary with numerous veterinary surgeons coming from various cities.
Çerkezköy production facility, one of the world’s modern production facilities, was
appreciated by physicians.
VETAŞ which has successfully carried out its activities for 40 years, within DEVA Holding,
celebrated its 40th anniversary with veterinary surgeons it invited from all over Turkey, within
the framework of an extensive and pleasant program, between 13 and 16 June 2013. Around
40 veterinary surgeons from Ankara, Kayseri, Konya, Samsun, Ordu, Adapazarı, Eskişehir,
Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Antalya, Isparta, İzmir, Denizli, Burdur, Diyarbakır, Van, Iğdır,
Erzurum, Elazığ and Sivas participating in the event checked in at the Istanbul Dedeman hotel
and embarked on their 4 days program, accompanied by VETAŞ’s field force composed of
around 30 persons, regional managers and central management staff. On their first day in
Istanbul, they visited the Grand Bazaar and had the opportunity to see the best examples of
traditional Turkish art as well as do some shopping, and after they returned to the hotel, they
could rest after a “welcome cocktail” and dinner.
Philipp Haas: “The new investments will carry VETAŞ 40 years ahead”
On the next day, VETAŞ officials and guests went to Çerkezköy early in the morning to visit
the DEVA production facilities. When they reached the facilities, in the administrative
building of the firm, veterinary surgeons were firstly told about DEVA Holding’s structure
and the place of VETAŞ İLAÇ within this structure. The agenda started with the opening
speech of Philipp Daniel Haas, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of VETAŞ A.Ş.
Philipp D. Haas expressed his satisfaction for being together with the guests and indicated that
they are proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of VETAŞ in Turkey’s animal health sector.
Haas indicated that the Çerkezköy production plant established in 2007-2010 is among the
world’s most modern facilities and that, in this respect, they successfully passed the German
inspection. Philipp Haas mentioned that they hold a valid and current European certificate and
that the Çerkezköy facilities will carry VETAŞ 40 years ahead. He said “With our Çerkezköy
facilities and our R&D center supported by 150 scientists, our new products will be supplied
to the market, both in the short run and medium and long terms. I would like to thank you for
the support you gave us for 40 years and the support you will provide in the next 40 years”.
Haas indicated that they can reach a better future by focusing on the domestic production of
drugs only with the support of veterinary surgeons and that in this way they can contribute to
the whole of Turkish society. Haas declared that their aim is to export to Europe, America and
New Zealand and that their production standards as well as the firm’s insight are suitable for
this. The firm which makes plans for exporting was once more appreciated by veterinary
surgeons.
Altuğ Uysal, DEVA Holding’s Deputy General Manager for Production Operations
and Projects & R-D, who took the floor after the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Philipp
Haas, made a presentation on Topkapı, Çerkezköy 1, Çerkezköy 2 and İzmit/Kartepe
production facilities. Altuğ Uysal indicated that DEVA, established in 1958, started
production in a building flat in Taksim-Tünel with physicians, pharmacists and veterinary
surgeons and that it has today become one of the greatest local drug producers.
Better products with inventions
He indicated that for curative and prevention purposes, DEVA produced 343 drugs in
13 therapeutic fields, to be used at every stage of life. Uysal indicated that they continue to
carry out activities in order to develop alternative generic and innovative drugs in various
specialization fields and that they aim to provide new inventions to the sector.
Uysal indicated that at Çerkezköy 1 and Çerkezköy 2 within the Çerkezköy Organized
Industrial Zone, in İzmit – Kartepe facilities totally sterile products are produced and that
DEVA started growing by increasing its investments with the new management. Altuğ Uysal
explained to the guests the transformation and growth registered by DEVA and VETAŞ every
year and also made a visual presentation. Uysal provided information on the capacity of the
production facilities, the details of products/production and the employees and veterinary
surgeons listened to him carefully. Uysal indicated that DEVA purchased Çerkezköy-2
facilities from Zentiva and has operated it since 2011 and said “There is an R-D center and a
raw material production facility, a solid oncology production facility, beta-lactam API,
VETAŞ production facility and the sterile liquid oncology building whose project is ongoing
and the Ministerial authorization will be obtained at the end of the year”.
Altuğ Uysal declared that in İzmit Köseköy they have a production facility which is
not included in the program of visits and which is Turkey’s most modern sterile production
facility, composed of modern buildings where sterile injectables, empty medical ampoules
and Boğaziçi eau de cologne are produced and where 300 persons are employed. After the
speech made by DEVA Holding’s Production Operations and Projects & R-D Deputy General
Manager Altuğ Uysal on the production properties of VETAŞ products in the facilities,
veterinary surgeons watched the promotional video of DEVA Holding and asked questions to
DEVA Holding’s officials on details of products as well as the production of VETAŞ.
Subsequently, they visited the production facilities.
Detailed information has been provided on all production lines of drugs
Before starting the visit of the plant, veterinary surgeons were divided into 3 groups to
whom information was provided on the various sections of the facility, following which they
came together for the visit of another facility. To some of the veterinary surgeons, information
was provided by DEVA Holding’s Logistics Deputy Manager Cemile Özkan on raw
materials, goods acceptance and warehouse divisions and they were much impressed by the
attention and application standards in this field. Subsequently, the Main Production Facility
where veterinary and human liquid and solid products are produced was visited. The
presentation of the facility was made by DEVA Holding’s Logistics Manager Gürcan Coşkun.
Veterinary surgeons visited the areas where liquid, solid, and inhaler products are produced
and information was provided to them on the work flow and production details in these
sections. Then, the cephalosporin and penicillin production section was visited, followed by
the API production facility where information on the facility was provided as follows: “The
API production facility started operating in 2001 for the production of active drug raw
materials and fermentation products, added a hydrogenation and coating unit in 2005, and
continued growing with a multipurpose non-betalactam synthesis productions area,
betalactam production area, fermentation products production area, pilot production area,
research and development section, quality control and solvent recycling unit and warehouse
sections on total 67,551 m², with modern equipment, and production is realized in accordance
with ICHQ7a, ISO9001, ISO14001 environmental and quality systems”.
Istanbul, the Bosphorus and historical places were fascinating for the guests
Following the visit to VETAŞ’s production facilities, despite Istanbul’s heavy traffic,
VETAŞ’s managing staff succeeded in gathering at the Beşiktaş wharf for a trip on the
Bosphorus with the field force and the guests. They enjoyed the historical texture from the
past up to date and the Istanbul Bosphorus unrivalled beauty, accompanied by a professional
guide. At the end of the trip, the boat approached Suada where the officials tasted delicious
meals, had the opportunity to fully breathe in Istanbul and share their professional experience.
On the last day of the program organized on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of VETAŞ,
guests visited the historical sites of Istanbul which is the city in Turkey which attracts the
greatest number of tourists. Tour guides provided information to the veterinary surgeons on
the Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet Square, Saint-Sophia and Sultanahmet Mosque, and they
took a rest to take a delicious lunch while watching the Haliç landscape.
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Veterinary Surgeon
Necdet Arıtuluk
ANTALYA KORKUTELİ
MY CONFIDENCE IN VETAŞ INCREASED FURTHERMORE
I graduated from the Ankara University, Veterinary Faculty in 1982. After having worked for
8 years in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Ankara, I worked 8 years in
Antalya, Korkuteli district as public veterinary surgeon and then I retired. In 2003, I started
managing the Toros Veterinary Clinic which I had founded previously. I didn’t know that
VETAŞ, a long-established firm, had such an exceptional structure. This visit has really been
fruitful. To closely visit the facilities and observe the production standards of drugs
strengthened further the confidence I placed in VETAŞ. We were pleased to see how carefully
the drugs which were made available to us after spending great efforts were prepared and to
observe the professionalism displayed. I believed that I can use the drugs I use in the exercise
of my profession with greater trust.
Veterinary Surgeon
Atanar Çelik
ÇANAKKALE
PROFESSIONAL AND QUALITY PRODUCTION
I think that such visits are very useful for veterinary surgeons. The question marks in our
minds are removed automatically. For example, one of the main question marks is the doubt
on the efficiency of raw materials used in veterinary drugs. After having observed a
production under such standards, those speculative thoughts become clearer. In the light of the
information provided by VETAŞ officials, we had the opportunity to observe that the control
mechanism functions very well before, during and after the production. This visit allowed us
to see how reliable the products are. To see that systems such as SAP used by very
professional firms were used here proved how professionally the works were carried out.
Besides, the target of VETAŞ to penetrate a difficult market where rules are strict such as the
European market shows how confident VETAŞ is. I hope that they will also be successful in
exports to Europe.
Veterinary Surgeon
Mehmet Sadık Aras
IĞDIR
I support domestic production
I graduated from the Uludağ University, Veterinary Faculty in 1988. Since 1992, I have been
working as a clinic veterinary surgeon. I was very pleased to visit the VETAŞ production
facilities of DEVA Holding. The facilities are very modern and at European standards. This is
very pleasing for our profession. I hope that other local production facilities produce under
such standards and that we can easily use their products. I always believe that domestic
production must be encouraged. Otherwise, global capital will purchase our firms. I believe
that state incentives must be granted in this sense. At the end, when global capital withdraws,
we shall remain alone. If production is realized under the same standards, there is no reason
why we should not prefer local products.
Veterinary Surgeon
Funda Aksünger
DİYARBAKIR
SAME STANDARDS AS HUMAN DRUGS
It was a very nice program of visits, displaying visually all the stages of production of drugs
and providing information on the plants. My confidence in the veterinary drugs production
realized in the firm VETAŞ increased considerably. The main reason for this is that the
purchase of raw materials is carried out under the same standards as human drugs and due
care is taken for sterile conditions during production.
Veterinary Surgeon
Mehmet Fatih Zaimoğlu
IZMIR
1st CLASS VETERINARY DRUGS PRODUCTION
We observed that VETAŞ’s production facilities are quite modern. When we compare
VETAŞ’s facilities with the production facilities of certain drug companies in the world, we
notice that VETAŞ’s facilities are much more ahead. I was very satisfied with this situation.
My confidence was further strengthened by seeing that human and veterinary drugs are
produced on the same lines. We had the wrong belief in the past that veterinary products were
processed as secondary products. This conception changed.
Veterinary Surgeon
Duran Şeker
KAYSERİ
VETAŞ PROVED ITS QUALITY
I sincerely congratulate VETAŞ for its 40th anniversary. I observed that the facilities are at
standards beyond my expectations and I was very glad to see this. We were proud to see that
Turkey has such a great drugs production firm and R&D facility. The level of production
standards, the meticulous storage and GMP in the production proved the quality of veterinary
drugs to all of us.
Veterinary Surgeon
Yüksel Ünal
ESKİŞEHİR
WATCHING CLOSELY IMPRESSES
I graduated from the Uludağ Veterinary Faculty. It was interesting for us to see the production
of a local firm in Turkey. We acquired more detailed information on production standards.
This technical visit to which we were invited showed us that the firm applies exactly the
requirements of the modern era and carries the production under EU standards. This perfect
work increased the confidence I placed in the firm.
Veterinary Surgeon
Metin Duman
SAKARYA
MODERN PRODUCTION UNDER EUROPEAN UNION STANDARDS
I have been working as a clinician for 23 years. The plant was greater and more modern that I
had expected. I was favorably affected by the works carried out in order to realize exports to
Europe and the full compliance with GMP standards. Our confidence in the firm was further
strengthened by the seriousness of the top managers, the standards available for exporting to
Europe and the presence of the required infrastructure for this.
Veterinary Surgeon
Günay Karaağaç
ORDU
A FACILITY KEEPING PACE WITH THE WORLD
I have been working as a clinician for nearly 6 years. Firstly, I would like to thank VETAŞ’s
managers and employees for having organized such a visit in the scope of the celebration of
the 40th anniversary. It was a very pleasant visit and we had the opportunity to meet our
colleagues. We visited a facility created at world standards by spending efforts and money. As
a Turkish citizen I was proud of this firm which targets exporting to the countries of the world
with a domestic production.
Veterinary surgeons coming to Istanbul from various cities, in the scope of VETAŞ’s
40th anniversary, had the opportunity to experience the unrivalled beauty of the
Bosphorus and historical monuments and to be informed on the cultural wealth.