[Edaily Reporter Kim Ji-wan] SK Plasma announced on the 15th that it held a groundbreaking ceremony for a plasma fractionation plant at the site of its Cubuk factory in Ankara, Turkey.

This project follows the “Shareholders’ Agreement” signed last November between SK Plasma and the Turkish Red Crescent to construct a plasma fractionation plant and establish a joint venture. Proturk, the joint venture established by the two companies, will build a production facility with a total floor area of approximately 36,000 square meters and an annual plasma processing capacity of 600,000 liters.

The facility is scheduled to produce albumin (ABM), immunoglobulin (IVIG), and factor VIII (FVIII) products, with completion targeted for the second half of 2028 and commercial production set to begin in 2030.

Once the plant is completed, it is expected to stabilize the supply of plasma-derived products, which have previously relied entirely on imports, and the Turkish government has expressed high expectations for the project. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the groundbreaking ceremony via live broadcast, which was held in conjunction with the 158th anniversary celebration of the Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) at the Presidential Palace.

Plasma fractionation products are designated as essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO); they are used to treat severe illnesses and are difficult to substitute. Countries without a domestic production base are highly dependent on imports and are vulnerable to supply disruptions during supply chain instability.

As a major shareholder and technology partner of Proturk, SK Plasma will transfer core plasma fractionation technology and support the construction of production facilities, quality control, local workforce training, and preparations for commercial production. In addition to receiving technology fees, SK Plasma will participate in the management of the joint venture based on its 15% equity stake.

Additionally, the company plans to concurrently carry out a CMO project in which plasma sourced locally in Türkiye will be fractionated at the Andong plant and supplied as finished products until commercial production begins.

The self-sufficiency solution business model for plasma fractionation products being pursued by SK Plasma goes beyond simple exports of finished products; it combines technology transfer, production facility construction, operational support, and equity participation. This allows the host country to secure a production base for essential medicines and medical sovereignty, while SK Plasma secures a long-term business foundation based on technology royalties and equity.

Based on this self-sufficiency solution business model, SK Plasma is pursuing the establishment of a “Federation” supply system that organically connects global production hubs, starting with Andong, South Korea, Indonesia, and Türkiye.

The company explains that as global production hubs expand in the future, this will help reduce blind spots in countries vulnerable to disruptions in the supply of essential medicines due to infrastructure shortages and contribute to securing medical sovereignty. Furthermore, even if production disruptions or a surge in demand occurs in a specific country, mutual complementarity among hubs will enhance both supply security and business scalability.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated at the event “This plasma fractionation facility project, involving an investment of 500 million euros (900 billion won), is a joint initiative led by Proturk, the Red Crescent Society, and relevant government agencies,” emphasizing that “it will play a crucial role in strengthening Turkey’s production base for essential medicines and reducing external dependence through self-sufficiency in production.” He also urged the stable implementation of the project.

Kim Seung-ju, CEO of SK Plasma, stated, “We have taken the first step toward self-sufficiency in plasma fractionation products with the trust of President Erdoğan and the Turkish government,” adding, “We will establish a stable supply system based on our production hubs in Indonesia and Turkey and expand the business scope of K-Bio to the European and Middle Eastern markets.”