Establishment

Synthetic medicinal products and raw materials were barely manufactured in the early 20th century. Such products were imported. After outbreak of the First World War, imports were suspended resulting in deficit of medicines and medical devices. Domestic pharmaceutical manufacture was extremely needed.

In 1925, the first plant manufacturing synthetic medicinal products, Lomonosov Kyiv Chemical and Pharmaceutical Plant, was put into operation in Ukraine. Later, it was transformed into Joint Stock Company Farmak.

Staff of 42 workers and 12 engineering workers under the leadership of I. V. Yegorov PhD established production and developed synthesis technologies of first products, which were chloroform and salicylic acid. In December 1925, the plant first manufactured 790 kg of crude resorcinol and 205 kg of salicylic acid.
In 1937, the plant went into production of medical resorcinol, which was successfully used throughout the USSR.

Professional personnel and modern equipment were dramatically sparse; however, the plant was successful in arranging the production of 15 medicines.

When the German fascist forces launched the offensive, the plant (i.e. staff of 30 employees and part of equipment) was evacuated first to Voroshilovgrad (present Luhansk), then to Kazan. When construction work and installation of production equipment moved out of Kyiv were complete, production of the required screens for X-ray equipment as well as chloratel, streptocide and tripaflavin was started. Those were the products required by military hospitals, especially those at the front line. Thanks to the plant’s staff, doctors at the front received regular supplies of the required medicines.

When Kyiv was liberated from fascist invaders, the plant’s staff returned to the city that was almost destroyed. They were working to restore the plundered plant remaining at the production for 2-3 days. It was their strenuousness and hard work that allowed the plant to eventually start production of first products – streptocide, disulfane, isophenine and electrolyte – in 1944.

By the end of 1944, Kyiv Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant fully recovered production of urotropin and anesthetic chloral hydrate, calcium and sodium chlorides. Operation of the menthol, validol and resorcinol production lines was launched in early 1945.

In 1950-ies Kyiv Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant became the single powerful company producing X-ray contrast agents in the USSR.

Over 1951-1958, refocusing of certain productions was implemented in the plant. The output of medicines (glucose, chloroethane) and X-ray contrast media was increased.

In 1958, the output of Validol was increased by almost 14 times and that of anesthetic chloroform by 11 times as compared to the output in 1950.

The production of syntomycin and synthesis of new medicines supplied to all the USSR countries was launched.

X-ray contrast agents Bilimin, Iodamide and Triombrast were developed and produced remaining ones of best contrast media till present.

In 1960, production of the domestic cardiovascular preparation named ‘Corvalol’ was launched, which quickly became globally known and is still the plant’s signature product.

In 1961, production of the exclusive medicinal product ‘Naphthyzin’ was started.

First automatic production lines for the manufacture of medicinal products were installed.

In 1965, M. V. Lomonosov Plant produced 27 products and implemented 1500 innovative proposals and inventions.

In 1975, the plant’s output of levomycetin was 165 tonnes, which was 4 times greater than its designed capacity.

Export of 1/5 of all products was arranged to over 20 countries of the world, among which were Angola, Germany, France, Italy, Egypt, Greece.

Construction of a dedicated facility for production of X-ray contrast agents was complete in the plant’s premises. Production of hydrocortisone was in progress.

Active reforming of the Company’s business activities was performed since mid-1980-ies.

M. V. Lomonosov Kyiv Chemical Pharmaceutical Plant became Joint Stock Company “Farmak” being the first in the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry.

Filya Ivanivna Zhebrovska was elected the General Director and Chair of the Management Board of Farmak JSC.

Since then, the mainstream of the Company’s activity was radical refocusing on production of competitive products complying with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The Company started retrofitting activities: the first production line for drops under the Bottelpack technology was purchased and installed. The first product produced on the new production line was Naphthyzin.

Production of deficit ophthalmic medicines, antibiotics, medicines in the form of ointments was launched.

In late 1990-ies, Farmak signed an agreement for long-term partnership with the US corporation Eli Lilly, which is the leader in insulin development and production. The Company launched production of human rDNA insulins from the drug substance under the US partner’s licensed technology.

In 1996, the production output increased by 157.7 % as compared to that of the preceding year, while the quantity of products of the Company’s portfolio tripled over the period of 1995-1999.

Production of L-thyroxine was launched. Construction of a new tablet production facility certified according to the GMP rules was complete.

The medicinal product Amizon was developed in cooperation with scientists of the Pharmacology and Toxicology Institute of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine and the Organic Chemistry Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; commercial manufacture of the product was launched.

17 thousand square meters of new production facilities and 6 thousand square meters of administrative facilities were commissioned over 10 years.

One new production was launched each year since 2000. In 2001, colossal construction of the Finished Medicinal Product Workshop (FMP-1) was started. Foreign partners were engaged to the design, which was the first experience in the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry. Thanks for this engagement, 4 production lines of FMP-1 were certified for the European market.

In mid-2000-ies, Farmak started opening its representative offices in other countries.

Today, the staff of Farmak’s representative offices includes about 200 experts.

In 2007, production of Magnegita® was launched, which is a generic product to the original contrast agent Magnevist® (gadopentetate dimeglumine). Farmak managed to be the first to synthesize the substance and to develop the finished dosage form as well as to prepare a registration dossier and to obtain authorization of the first generic of the original gadopentetate indicated for the use for magnetic resonance imaging in 22 countries of the European Union under the decentralized procedure.

In December 2010, Farmak commissioned the first stage of the large project entitled ‘SLM-2’ (Sterile Liquid Medicines), which includes two aseptic production lines for injectable products.

In 2000-ies, Farmak was proactive in colossal construction: the second stage of the Bottelpack production line (2010), production lines for liquid medicines (2007-2010), production facilities for dragées (2011) and soft gelatine capsules were launched over a short period of time. Full retrofitting of the manufacturing sites was complete in 2013.

In 2010, Farmak was recognized as Top #1 Company among domestic manufacturers having moved 4 positions up in the rating over 4 years and has surefootedly asserted the leadership to this day.

The Company obtained GMP certificates for all its production lines.

A new laboratory and process complex committed to research and development was launched.

The laboratories were equipped with cutting-edge equipment of such global manufacturers as Glatt, SBM, Urlinski, Belimed, De Ditrich, Gea, Sartorius, Malvern Instruments.

A polish company – Nord Farm – was acquired.

The API manufacturing site based in Shostka, Sumy Region, was constructed and launched.

The Company’s products are exported to 20 countries of the world.

The Company’s product portfolio includes 220 product dossiers.

Up to 20 new products are launched each year.

The Company’s staff is over 2600 employees.

The Company has 19 production lines, all of which comply with GMP.

The Pharmaceutical Quality System was implemented and continually improved according to the current regulatory requirements and global standards of ISO, GMP. The Company receives about 15 international inspections each year.

Zhebrovska Filia became the Chairman of the Supervisory board. On March 3, 2018 Volodymyr Kostiuk was appointed acting Executive Director.

The company’s products are exported to 40 countries in the EU, Central and South America, the CIS, the Middle East, and Asia, and its portfolio includes 400 medicines.

In 2021, every third package of the company’s drugs went to foreign markets.

The company expanded its export geography to include Switzerland, Brazil, Indonesia, and Bolivia.

In 2021, Farmak also opened an office in the United Arab Emirates and a representative office in Vietnam.

The company began expanding into the Latin American region from Mexico, where an essential drug was registered and commercialized. The company is also rapidly expanding its cooperation with other markets in the region: Peru, Colombia, El Salvador, Chile, Panama, Bolivia, and other Latin American countries.

In 2021, the company opened a renovated section of the third workshop, installing the longest drug packaging line.

Having one of the best R&D departments in Ukraine according to Forbes, Farmak is engaged in the development of research and development capacities. The company launched the construction of an innovation center in Kyiv, and the company’s employees presented an innovative PCR test at the forum of the UN General Assembly.

Filya Zhebrovska, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of Farmak, is the only Ukrainian woman included in the global list of 50 Over 50: EMEA 2022 of the international edition of Forbes.

Since the beginning of a full-scale war in Ukraine, Farmak has been actively engaged in the pharmaceutical and economic fronts of the country. In the conditions of disrupted logistical communications, despite the occupation and hostilities in large areas, the company managed to provide civilians and the military with the necessary medicines.

Farmak and the Zhebrivski Family Charitable Foundation comprehensively help our defenders on the front lines not only with medicines. In 2022, the Zhebrivski Family Charitable Foundation and Farmak provided assistance to the Ukrainian Army in the amount of more than UAH 50 million.

Farmak closed the representative office of the company in the Republic of Belarus, which supports the outright terrorism of the aggressor country on our soil.

The company actively takes part in the development of a recovery plan for the pharmaceutical industry in Ukraine.

Start of construction of production site in Spain.

Farmak started selling its own drug to Malaysia. This is the 7th country in the Asia-Pacific region and the 58th in the world where the Ukrainian company exports medicines. The company is also increasing its presence in the EU countries by acquiring pharmaceutical marketing companies in the Czech Republic and Slovakia along with related intellectual property rights and trademarks. In addition, as a result of successfully passing the inspections of the British regulatory authorities, which lasted more than a year, the Ukrainian company registered two new products, which are now being sold in the UK.

Farmak has successfully completed the international HORIZON 2020 program. Its participants were eight academies and five pharmaceutical companies from eight countries, including Farmak, the only company from Ukraine.

The enterprise continues to provide comprehensive assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the population affected during the full-scale war. Farmak and the Zhebrivsky Family Charitable Foundation allocated over UAH 30 million to this end in just 6 months of 2023. The amount of the charitable assistance since the beginning of russia’s open military invasion of Ukraine is UAH 83 million.

Forbes together with the job search platform Work.ua named the best employers in Ukraine. In the pharmaceutical sector, the leader was Farmak. The survey became the largest in Forbes history, with participation from more than a quarter of a percent of all employed people in Ukraine.

Farmak, one of Ukraine’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers, launched nine new products in the first half of 2023.

Despite the full-scale war, the company continues to allocate significant resources to research and development of new medicines. Each year, Farmak invests about $15 million in R&D.

In the first six months of 2023, the company paid over UAH 400 million in taxes at all levels, and additionally contributed more than UAH 30 million to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Farmak employees raised more than UAH 2 million for the Army. For the fifth time, the company held its charity initiative “I Work One Day for the Army”, where employees voluntarily donate part of their salaries to support Ukraine’s defenders.

Farmak successfully passed a scheduled inspection and received EU GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification renewals, confirming the company’s compliance with the highest pharmaceutical production standards.

Farmak and the Zhebrivski Family Charitable Foundation were honored with awards from General Valerii Zaluzhnyi and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for their longstanding support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces since 2014.

As the leader of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical market, Farmak introduced 22 new medicines in 2023. Among them is a drug for the treatment of heart failure, which is three times more affordable than imported alternatives available in Ukraine, while maintaining the same high quality standards.

Farmak advances digital transformation
In January 2024, Farmak launched the next stage of its digitalization journey by implementing SAP S/4HANA, the latest enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. This innovation will help the company enhance efficiency and streamline business processes.

Showcasing innovations at Europe’s leading radiology congress
Farmak presented its products at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR)—one of the largest medical events in Europe and the second biggest radiology conference worldwide. Each year, ECR attracts over 25,000 radiologists from more than 130 countries.

Strengthening ties with Poland
Farmak became a member of the Polish-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (PUIG), an organization that fosters economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Recognition of leadership
Filya Zhebrovska, Chair of the Supervisory Board and founder of Farmak, was named among the top 100 Ukrainian women driving the nation’s victory. The list, published by Ukrainska Pravda under the title “The Power of Women”, highlights defenders, volunteers, educators, entrepreneurs, and other women contributing to Ukraine’s future.

Strategic acquisition in Poland
Farmak International acquired the Polish company Symphar, reinforcing the company’s long-term global growth strategy “Farmak 2.0: From Local Success to Global Leadership.”

Among the top taxpayers in Ukraine
According to DS News, Farmak ranked among the Top 10 largest taxpayers, having contributed UAH 914.6 million in taxes and fees to the state budget in 2023.

Excellence in corporate reputation
Farmak entered the Top 5 pharmaceutical companies with the strongest reputation in Ukraine, based on the “Reputation ACTIVists” ranking, which evaluated 734 companies across multiple industries.

Rebranding for a new era
In line with its updated corporate strategy—developed even before the full-scale war—Farmak introduced a refreshed brand identity. The company updated its corporate colors, adopted the Latin script for its official name, and revised its corporate slogan.

Executive recognition
Focus magazine named Volodymyr Kostiuk, CEO of Farmak, among Ukraine’s most outstanding executives in its “Leaders of Wartime” ranking.

Supporting children’s healthcare
Farmak donated UAH 1 million to support the reconstruction of Okhmatdyt, Ukraine’s largest children’s specialized hospital, severely damaged during a massive Russian missile strike.

Sustained fiscal responsibility
In the first half of 2024 alone, Farmak paid UAH 687.5 million in taxes and mandatory payments. Between 2019 and 2024, the company’s total tax contributions exceeded UAH 4.8 billion.

Joining the national cashback program
Farmak became a participant in Ukraine’s “National Cashback” program, launched on September 2. Ukrainians can receive 10% cashback on purchases of Farmak medicines. The program runs from August 24, 2024, through December 31, 2025.

Expansion in the UK
On September 19, 2024, Farmak International, the global brand of Farmak Group, acquired A&S Pharma Holdings Ltd., a UK-based distributor specializing in generic medicines.

International recognition in HR
In London, Farmak received the prestigious Business Culture Award in the category “Best Initiative for Employee Wellbeing.” It was the only Ukrainian company honored in 2024.

Product registration in the UK
Continuing its global expansion, Farmak registered a new general anesthesia medicine in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.

Expanding global export footprint
Farmak began exporting medicines to Jordan, the company’s 61st export market. Farmak’s distribution network now spans the EU, Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Australia.

New office in Moldova
In December 2024, Farmak opened a representative office in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova. Farmak’s medicines first entered the Moldovan market in 1993; today, its local portfolio includes over 60 products.

Farmak Group has started exporting medicines to Pakistan. The company’s entry into the Pakistani market is the result of the efforts of the Farmak International Middle East & Africa team, which is rapidly expanding the company’s presence in the region.

The Farmak Group has obtained its first marketing authorization in the People’s Republic of China — approval for the commercialization and use of its diagnostic contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

In 2024, Farmak launched 22 new products, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, and dietary supplements.

Farmak was ranked among the Top 30 Ukrainian companies that made the greatest progress in digital transformation. The “Champions of Digitalization” ranking, developed by Forbes and KPMG in Ukraine, assessed the level of digitalization in domestic businesses for the first time.

The company continues to invest in its growth in Ukraine, reinforcing its position in the pharmaceutical market. In 2024, Farmak’s total investments amounted to UAH 1.7 billion.

Farmak was included in Forbes’ TOP 50 Exporters of Ukraine, a list recognizing companies that made a significant contribution to promoting the “Made in Ukraine” brand globally and supporting the national economy.

The company also topped the list of pharmaceutical manufacturers and importers with the best corporate reputation in Ukraine, according to the “Reputation ACTIVists – 2025” corporate reputation management ranking.

Farmak and the Zhebrivski Family Charitable Foundation were recognized among the country’s largest donors by NV.

According to the annual survey The Best KNU Employers, conducted by Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv among its students and graduates, Farmak was ranked the number one employer in the “Medicine and Pharmaceuticals” category. A total of 450 respondents took part in the survey.

The CEO of Farmak was included in the list of Ukraine’s best chief executives by the business magazine TOP-100. Ratings of the Largest and the portal delo.ua.

Filya Zhebrovska was named among the “100 People of NV 2025”, an editorial selection of Ukrainians recognized for their contribution to the defense and development of the country. As Chair of the Supervisory Board of Farmak and Founder of the Zhebrivski Family Charitable Foundation, she was featured in the “Business” category. Zhebrovska has played a pivotal role in the advancement of Ukraine’s pharmaceutical industry. Under her leadership, Farmak has established itself as the undisputed leader of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market and is steadily strengthening its international presence.

Farmak International, part of the Farmak Group and responsible for expanding the company’s global footprint, successfully completed its first delivery of injectable medicines to China. Farmak International became the only foreign manufacturer to win this tender, highlighting the strong competitiveness and high quality of the company’s sterile injectables portfolio.

In mid-June, Farmak successfully passed a GMP inspection conducted by the Chinese regulatory authority — the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). During the inspection, NMPA representatives thoroughly reviewed the company’s quality management system and technical facilities, with particular focus on manufacturing processes and quality control procedures. The audit confirmed Farmak’s high level of transparency, compliance with international standards, and the professionalism of its team. Notably, Farmak is the first and so far the only Ukrainian pharmaceutical manufacturer to pass such an inspection by the NMPA.

In the first half of 2025, four new Farmak medicines received marketing authorization in the United Kingdom. These approvals underscore the dynamic growth of the Farmak Group and the company’s strengthening position in one of Europe’s most challenging and highly regulated pharmaceutical markets.