Abidi History

History of Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals

1920

Dr. Gholamali Abidi was born on June 9, 1920, into a prominent and well-respected family in Tehran, Iran.

1938

After completing his primary and secondary education, he entered the School of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Tehran in 1938, studying under the most renowned professors of the era. He graduated with a Doctorate in Pharmacy in 1943 and subsequently departed for France to complete postgraduate studies.

1946

The dire state of the country’s healthcare system and the tragic condition of patients during World War II fortified his determination to establish national pharmaceutical production in Iran. Consequently, he founded the country’s first pharmaceutical laboratory in 1946 at the Amin-Huzur intersection in Tehran.

1958

Through persistent efforts, Dr. Abidi successfully obtained the first-ever pharmaceutical license for the “Vermicide Tablet” from the Ministry of Health in 1958.

1961

From 1957 to 1961, the Pezeshk va Darou (Physician and Medicine) journal was published under his supervision and proprietorship, serving as a valuable resource for the medical community.

1962

In 1962, he established a more advanced and well-equipped laboratory in the Gholhak district. However, after a period of operation, he was compelled to sell his shares to the Italian pharmaceutical company, Lepetit.

1973

Undeterred, Dr. Abidi constructed a new pharmaceutical laboratory in 1973 on an approximate 15,000-square-meter plot at Kilometer 8 of the Karaj Special Road—the very site where the company continues to operate successfully today.

1999

Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals achieved a significant milestone by receiving the ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification from BVQI, UK.

2002

A branch of Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals was officially inaugurated in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in the presence of the then-President.

2004

Dr. Gholamali Abidi was a noble, philanthropic individual with a profound love for science and manufacturing. He possessed an indescribable energy and dynamism, always thinking ahead of his time. On the evening of September 18, 2004, the heart of the Father of Iran’s Pharmaceutical Industry stopped beating at Toos Hospital.

2006

The Quality Control (QC) Laboratory of Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals successfully obtained an accreditation certificate from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

2008

Cobel Darou, recognized as the premier pharmaceutical import company in Iran, acquired over 90% of the shares of Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals.

2009

Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals became a trusted strategic partner of Sanofi. This collaboration commenced in 2009 with the domestic production of Plavix and has since expanded to include the under-license manufacturing of Telfast, Depakine, Stilnox, and Daonil. Sanofi has actively supported Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals in enhancing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and further elevating product quality.

2012

The largest and most modern liquids production line in the country was launched in strict compliance with GMP principles and international standards. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the then-Head of the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA).

2014

Following relentless efforts and the implementation of world-class standardization, the engineers and pharmaceutical experts at Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals were awarded the international Integrated Management System (IMS) certificate by German auditors from TÜV NORD. In the same year, the company also received its official GMP certification from the Ministry of Health.

2015

On the eve of Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals’ 70th anniversary, coinciding with National Pharmacy Day, a new production line for specialty medicines was inaugurated through a technology transfer from Synthon (Netherlands). The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Dinarvand, the then-Head of the IFDA. The first product manufactured on this line was Dimethyl Fumarate, marketed under the brand name “Diphosel” for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients.

2017

Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals was fully audited and officially approved by multinational pharmaceutical giants Novartis and AstraZeneca across all GMP requirements.

2019

Comprehensive renovation and expansion of the manufacturing facilities.

2020

Launch and operationalization of new, state-of-the-art packaging lines.

2022

Official inauguration and operational launch of the “Abidi 2” manufacturing site.

2023

Behvazan Pharmaceuticals officially joined the Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals group.

2024

Amin and Cosar Pharmaceuticals officially joined the Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals group.

1920

1941

1946

1962

2004

Biography of Dr. Abidi

Dr. Gholamali Abidi was born on June 9, 1920, in Tehran. After completing his primary and secondary education in his hometown, he was admitted to the School of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Tehran in 1938. He successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Pharmacy and graduated from the faculty in 1942.

Upon completing his studies, Dr. Abidi initially established a sales agency for a foreign pharmaceutical company in Iran. However, driven by a profound sense of patriotism, he resolved to shift from importing finished products to importing raw materials, thereby laying the groundwork for domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. Realizing that achieving this monumental goal required advanced expertise, he traveled to France for postgraduate studies. Dr. Abidi’s primary motivation for pioneering Iran’s pharmaceutical industry was the widespread prevalence of infectious diseases and the prohibitive cost of imported medicines. Upon returning to Iran, he rented an old house at the Amin-Huzur intersection in Tehran, officially commencing the production of tablets and syrups. His first products were anti-parasitic medicines, which were in extremely high demand at the time.

In 1946, he founded the first pharmaceutical laboratory in Iran. By 1958, his relentless efforts culminated in receiving the country’s first-ever pharmaceutical manufacturing license for “Vermicide” tablets from the Ministry of Health. Dr. Abidi was dedicated to producing high-quality, affordable medicines. He personally traveled to underprivileged regions across Iran to ensure that those with limited purchasing power had access to these vital treatments.

Building on this success, he significantly upgraded his laboratory in 1962. During this period, Dr. Abidi imported modern machinery and launched Iran’s first ampoule manufacturing line. To further elevate quality standards and expand national production capabilities, he purchased a 15,000-square-meter plot of land at Kilometer 8 of the Karaj Special Road in 1973, relocating Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals to its current site.

A steadfast believer in the dissemination of science and knowledge, Dr. Abidi undertook numerous initiatives to expand his vision, including the establishment of a Dr. Abidi Pharmaceuticals branch in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Finally, after a lifetime dedicated to advancing national pharmaceutical production, Dr. Gholamali Abidi—affectionately known as the Father of Iran’s Pharmaceutical Industry—passed away on September 18, 2004.