Atabay was founded in ?stanbul by Mr. ?mer Kemalletin Atabay, Pharmacist, in 1939, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War. The company had emerged as a trading business, importing and marketing pharmaceutical products. In the 1940's this medium sizsed commercial operation developed into the production of sulfonamide tablets, which were in great demand at the time, thus paving the way to pharmaceutical industry in Turkey. By 1954, Atabay Pharmaceutical Products Inc. had evolved into a well equipped modern plant. nThe initial product line expanded to include analgesics, apart from sulfonamides. Atabay's rapid growth, in due time, necessitated a larger plant. Consequently, in 1967, this facility was established at its present site in Ac?badem, ?stanbul.