Koç Holding acquires 65% stake in biotech firm StemBio

Koç Holding has expanded its investment in the healthcare sector with the acquisition of a 65% stake in the biotechnology company StemBio. The deal was finalized after receiving Competition Authority approval.

StemBio, a cord blood and tissue bank, operates a GMP laboratory in which it produces stem cells for existing and potential therapeutic applications. In addition to its work with stem cells, StemBio also stores and processes human tissue samples, which play a vital role in regenerative medicine and transplantation procedures. Deploying advanced infrastructure at its 2,500 square meter laboratory located in Gebze, StemBio is collaborating with TÜBİTAK on projects that focus on  developing new methods for treating cancer.

Levent Çakıroğlu: “We’re keeping a close watch on a wide range of investment opportunities in biotechnology.”

In a statement concerning the StemBio acquisition, Koç Holding CEO Levent Çakıroğlu said “With people living longer and healthcare spending increasing globally, technological advancements in healthcare are also accelerating. As Koç Holding, we believe it is important to leverage our experience in the healthcare sector by undertaking new investments in line with such developments. We are committed to improving people’s lives through healthcare, both through the services traditionally provided through the Vehbi Koç Foundation and by continued investment in new areas such as our recent investments in medical devices and the exploration of opportunities in biotechnology and R&D. We believe that our investment in StemBio, which conducts research on stem cell therapies, will strengthen our position in the rapidly advancing field of health technologies while also contributing to the enhancement of our country’s competitiveness in this area. We plan to make use of any new treatment methods arising from this investment at the Vehbi Koç Foundation’s American Hospital and Koç University Hospital.”



StemBio Founder İbrahim Özsu: “Our strategic collaboration with Koç Holding significantly strengthens the fulfillment of StemBio’s mission to develop innovative products that will shape the future of biotechnology.”

StemBio Founder İbrahim Özsu said “I take pride in announcing that we have achieved an important milestone along the journey on which we embarked in 2020 with the inauguration of the “Özsu Family Vision”. A leading cell and tissue bank in Turkey, StemBio commands a range of advanced technology and GMP infrastructure resources. We are committed to maintaining our position as a leading production center in this area. Our strategic partnership with Koç Holding is a major boost for StemBio. It significantly strengthens our ability to develop the innovative biotech products that will shape the future. Leveraging our cutting-edge laboratories at the TÜBİTAK Marmara Technopark campus, this collaboration allows us to further our efforts in regenerative medicine and next-generation biotechnology.  As StemBio, we are firmly committed to producing innovative next-generation products and creating value for our country while also pursuing our company’s goal of becoming a major player in the field of biotechnology.