PT Kalbe Farma Tbk, or simply known as Kalbe, is an Indonesian pharmaceutical, healthcare and nutrition company established in 1966. The company has expanded by strategic acquisitions of pharmaceutical companies, becoming an integrated consumer health and nutrition enterprise.
The Kalbe Group has brands in the
prescription drug
A prescription drug (also prescription medication or prescription medicine) is a pharmaceutical drug that legally requires a medical prescription to be dispensed. In contrast, over-the-counter drugs can be obtained without a prescription. The rea ...
s,
OTC drugs,
energy drink and nutrition products, distribution arm that reaches over 1 million outlets. Notably, the company produces
misoprostol
Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin medication used to prevent and treat stomach and duodenal ulcers, induce labor, cause an abortion, and treat postpartum bleeding due to poor contraction of the uterus. Misoprostol is taken by mouth wh ...
(sold under the brand name of Invitec), a drug which is used to treat
stomach ulcers
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a break in the inner lining of the stomach, the first part of the small intestine, or sometimes the lower esophagus. An ulcer in the stomach is called a gastric ulcer, while one in the first part of the intestines ...
but is also widely used in Indonesia as an illegal
abortifacient
An abortifacient ("that which will cause a miscarriage" from Latin: ''abortus'' "miscarriage" and '' faciens'' "making") is a substance that induces abortion. This is a nonspecific term which may refer to any number of substances or medications, ...
(
abortion
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...
-inducing substance).
Company brands in healthcare and pharmaceutical segments include Promag, Mixagrip, Woods, Komix, Prenagen and Extra Joss.
Kalbe is the largest publicly listed pharmaceutical company in
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
with around US$5 billion in market capitalization and revenues of over
Rp 15 trillion.
History
Kalbe Farma was founded on September 10, 1966, by 6 siblings, K.L. Tjoen, Theresia H. Setiady, Khouw Lip Swan, Khouw Lip Boen (Also Known As: Dr. Boenyamin Setiawan), Maria Karmila, and F. Bing Aryanto. Kalbe Farma first began operations in a house garage that was owned by the founders.
In May 2020, Kalbe Farma signed a Memorandum of Understanding with South Korean pharmaceuticals company Genexine Inc. to develop a vaccine for the new corona virus or COVID-19.
References
Company Presentation - Q3 - 2018
External links
* {{Official website, https://www.kalbe.co.id/
1966 establishments in Indonesia
1991 initial public offerings
Indonesian companies established in 1966
Manufacturing companies based in Jakarta
Health care companies established in 1966
Health care companies of Indonesia
Pharmaceutical companies established in 1966
Pharmaceutical companies of Indonesia
Companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange