Organizing harvesting groups of children

Initially, he collected herbs and forest fruits in the forests of the nearby Berkovitsa mountain and around the village of Komarevo⁵. After he collected the herbs, he sold them to ambulatory traders, who often passed by in Komarevo and Berkovitsa to buy them⁵. During one specific trade he made he met on of the most active traders and businessmen in the Montana region, Metodi Tachev, who bought those herbs and forest fruits⁵. Metodi Tachev successfully and on a large scale was developing his trade activities in the region during that time⁵. The young Angel Kirkov decided that in order to profit more from his trade activities, it was necessary to increase the volume of herbs and fruits, which he collected and sold⁵. As a result, he organized collection from other children, as well, in order to increase those volumes and to sell them primarily to Metodi Tachev⁵. Angel Kirkov impressed the trader with his entrepreneurial drive and diligence and the two of them began to develop mutually beneficial trade⁵. After his family’s business, this was the first successful business endeavour of the young entrepreneur⁵.

Close

Combining work & studying

Angel Kirkov lived in the centre of Sofia in the family of Metodi Tachev, nearby the office of the active during that time entrepreneur⁵. This job and the developed by him commercial activities gave Angel Kirkov the opportunity to learn the rules and subtleties of organization and realization of the business, which as a result is of great advantage in his entire business activity in the years to come⁵.

In 1951 Angel Kirkov graduated the Business faculty in Sofia as one of the most academically successful students⁵. Unlike many other students during that time, he applied many of the concepts, learned in the University, in practice in the company of Metodi Tachev⁵. On the other hand, his work in the business also helped him to master more in-depth the lectured material in the degree, which he studied⁵. In Sofia he supported himself financially entirely on his own, without financial support from his family, whom he often visited during his studies and work in the big city⁵.

Close

Towards new challenge

With his accumulated significant management experience in “Bakery products” and his graduation of specialized education, Eng. Angel Kirkov endeavoured on new challenge, which was even more connected to his two academic qualifications⁵. After he leaves the factory and after a new deputy Director is hired, workers in protest write on the sacks of flour "We want Kirkov back!"⁵.

Close

Vision & strategy for development of Chemical-pharmaceutical plant

Right after he became Director in CPP Sofia, he developed overall strategy for the plant development, as well as for its trade activity with medicinal products⁵. In his strategy he substantiates the necessity of constructing new production site, which was going to provide at least 20-year perspective development of CPP Sofia (the first plant of nowadays Sopharma JSC)⁵. He presents his intention in front of the board of directors of the enterprise, who accepts his decision⁵.

Thesis for industrial manufacturing of Metamizole sodium

In 1962 he wrote his thesis for his second higher education in industrial chemistry, themed “Industrial manufacturing of Analgin in the existing installation for pyramidone, CPP Sofia” with capacity of 20 tons per month and at a later stage supplying multitude of countries around the world with Analgin¹⁸. This is a medicinal product, which had significant contribution for development of the Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry at that time and for its imposition on the international markets⁵.

Close

Global innovation & scale⁵

In his scaled-up initiative Eng. Angel Kirkov deployed his organizational and leadership qualities for modern, large-scale and high-quality development of the chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Bulgaria at that time, according to the newest trends of the global pharmaceutical industry⁵.

Eng. Angel Kirkov, as General Director of the enterprise SBA "Pharmachem" differentiated himself with global thinking and innovative views⁵. Active and highly effective in his daily work, he developed wide organization and technological activity, led by the strategy developed by him for development of newly-formed enterprise⁵. He bult new manufacturing site for manufacturing of richer range of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and finished dosage forms^{5, 19}. This new site allowed manufacturing of more high-quality medicinal products and cosmetic products, according to all modern global standards⁵. The newly-built plants at that time in the towns of Dupnitsa, Razgrad, Peshtera and others, contributed to increase of manufacturing and sales volumes of medicinal and cosmetic products, dedicated for the territory of Bulgaria, as well as for export⁵.

Bulgaria succeeds after hard post-war period to advance as leading power in the global pharmaceutical industry⁵. 

As of 2023 most of these plants continue to function successfully as property of Bulgarian and multinational pharmaceutical companies⁵.

Under his leadership, new plant for antipyretics was designed and built with annual capacity of 800 tons⁵. At that time, multitude of extentions, modernizations and reconstructions were realized, by which manufacturing with high economical effectiveness was achieved⁵.

Bulgaria becomes one of the leading countries in the world for manufacturing of antipyretics¹⁵. From 1954 up until 1967 manufacturing of Analgin and of amidophen by the plant increased from 32 tons to 500 tons, annually, respectively¹⁹.

Close

With his idea and leadership he attracted and utilized the scientific potential of BAS (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), Medical Academy and Higher education universities, turning this Board into brain trust, drawing the perspective for scientific discoveries in the spehere of the pharmaceutical industry¹⁷.

Under his initiatives and leadership many innovative and generic medicinal products (synthetic and phytochemical¹⁹) were manufactured and sold, some of which are successfully sold today^{5, 17}.

This newly-formed team of scientists realized constant exchange of knowledge and ideas and discusses their practical realization for the development of Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry and for turning the industry into leading one for Bulgaria, as well as validation of SBA “Pharmachem” as pharmaceutical enterprise on global level⁵.

Creation of Scientific Research Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute

The huge scientific potential of the Scientific Advisory Board to SBA “Pharmachem" became the foundation for the created under the leadership of Eng. Angel Kirkov Scientific Research Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute (SRCPI), which provided the necessary scientific developments for implementation in manufacturing of multitude of medicinal products, discovered in Bulgaria, as well as of medicinal products discovered by leading pharmaceutical companies from Europe⁵. Eng. Angel Kirkov developed also the export activities of SBA “Pharmachem” in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Russia (incl. USSR), South-Eastern Asia, South America (incl. Cuba & Brazil)⁵. Under his leadership and initiatives many representative offices were opened in those countries (incl. in Italy, Singapore and others)⁵. He visited more than 80 countries in order to initiate and further develop trade relationships with other pharmaceutical companies, related to APIs, finished dosage forms and finished cosmetic products (incl. The UK and Greece)⁵. Еxport activities of SBA “Pharmachem” were valued in tens of billions of BGN in profit during the tenure of Eng. Angel Kirkov⁵.

Complete cycle science-manufacturing-commerce

In this way, the complete cycle science-manufacturing-commerce on the market for medicinal and cosmetic products, provided the opportunity for a brief period of time in the post-war period, Bulgaria to be among the leading countries in the world, regarding pharmaceutical manufacturing and sales⁵. The product list of SBA “Pharmachem” included more than 1500 medicinal products, exported in more than 35 countries, in most of which the enterprise was active through representative offices⁵. During this period, SBA “Pharmachem” was among the leading 10 pharmaceutical companies in Europe and was in the ranking of the most successful pharmaceutical companies in the world⁵. Abiding by world standard, he succeeded to transform pharmaceutical manufacturing in Bulgaria at global level⁵. „Thanks to his organizational skills and talent, solid economics knowledge and skillful utilization of vast amount of information, Eng. Angel Kirkov had “decisive contribution for the rapid and stable development of “Pharmachem”¹⁷.

Patentable technology for manufacturing of Metamizole sodium

With active participation by Eng. Angel Kirkov, a team of chemists and pharmacists developed and implemented original patentable technology for manufacturing of "Analgin" (Metamizole sodium) and amidophen, as a result of which Bulgaria became the second leader in the world in manufacturing and sales of the API and the finished dosage forms Analgin (over 1200 tons, annually)⁵. He had personal contribution to development of the technology and machines for manufacturing of the medicinal product¹⁷. As a chemist he improved part of the method of obtaining the API of Metamizole sodium⁵. Numerous new medicinal products were implemented in manufacturing, many of which successfully marketed today on the Bulgarian and international markets⁵.

Collaboration with L'Oreal

Collaboration with the French cosmetic company L'Oreal and good personal contact of Eng. Angel Kirkov with Liliane Bettencourt, the Manager of L'Oreal, after her visit to Bulgaria, gave the beginning of licensed manufacturing of cosmetic products of L'Oreal in Bulgaria, such as the famous hairspray "Oreal", which was innovative for the early 60s in Bulgaria⁵. During that time this was unthinkable, but he achieved it⁵.

Excellent contacts at highest economic & scientific level

With excellent contacts at highest economic and scientific level (e.g. Russian Medicines Agency and Russian Academy of Sciences) Eng. Angel Kirkov succeeded to turn the medicinal and cosmetic products of “Pharmachem” into the best sold in Russia (incl. USSR) during times, in which the Russian pharmaceutical industry was not well-developed⁵. For example, the toothpaste “Pomorin”, manufactured by “Pharmachem” in Bulgaria was in almost every home in those countries⁵.

SBA "Pharmachem" - One of the leading pharmaceutical associations in Europe & the world

Eng. Angel Kirkov was General Director of SBA "Pharmachem" up until March, 1972, when was the end of his 7-year successful heading of the first in such scale enterprize in the industrial history of Bulgaria. Only for this period, SBA "Pharmachem" ranked among the top pharmaceutical companies in Europe and in the world⁵. SBA "Pharmachem" was famous among the SBAs in Bulgaria for its own hymn, which was sang by all employees of the association⁵.

Excellent personal business contacts⁵

Eng. Angel Kirkov, heading “Pharmachem”, created excellent personal contacts with General Directors of the pharmaceutical companies “Hoechst” (Germany), “Polfa” (then "Polfa" - Pharmaceutical Industry Union, Poland), Takeda (Japan), Infa (Italy) and many others from nowadays European Union⁵. Eng. Angel Kirkov also met world leaders, such as the King of Nepal, as well as the Japanese Emperor⁵.

Close

Deputy Chairman of Economic Affaires of Medical Academy

After this one year, Eng. Angel Kirkov was hired as Deputy Chairman of Economic Affairs in Medical Academy in Sofia in the period from 1981 to 1983⁵. In that period, under his leadership, the external commercial company „Maimeks“ to Medical Academy was created for trading with medicinal products and medical devices only for the needs of Medical Academy⁵.

Teaching at the Pharmaceutical Faculty

After 2 years, at will, he starts his dreamed scientific and teaching activity in the Pharmaceutical Faculty to Medical Academy in Sofia⁵. There he created and led sub-department on "Organization and economics of pharmaceutical manufacturing", the only one in Bulgaria at that time, to the department of Social pharmacy“^{1, 5, 6}. Parallel to his teaching, in 1981 he also wrote the first in Bulgaria economics textbook for students of pharmacy, titled "Organization and economics of pharmaceutical manufacturing", which also was re-published in second edition in 1987¹.

Habilitations

In 1981 Eng. Angel Kirkov became Ph.D. and D.M.Sc. in the Pharmaceutical Faculty with his habilitation work "Organization and economics of pharmaceutical manufacturing"⁵.

In 1985 he became Associate Professor. In 1987 he became Professor. Prof. Angel Kirkov participated individually and in authorship teams in writing over 250 scientific papers and scientific developments¹. He wrote the book “Medicine-Supplying System“, as one of his habilitation works⁵. Prof. Angel Kirkov lectured in the Pharmaceutical Faculty on the newly created by him discipline in Bulgaria “Organization and economics of pharmaceutical manufacturing"¹. 

Numerous scientific articles, textbooks & workbooks

He authored numerous publications, textbooks and workbooks, which he wrote individually and in teams, on problems of medicine-supplying system, thus modernizing the academic perspective in the spheres of organization, management and economics of medicines’ supply¹. Prof. Angel Kirkov, due to his rich experience in the global pharmaceutical industry was one of the first scientists-industrialists in Bulgaria to develop the concept of "Marketing” in the country, which was extremely innovative at the time^{1, 5}. In 1983 Prof. Angel Kirkov writes also "Guide for practical exercises on organization and economics of pharmaceutical manufacturing", dedicated to students of pharmacy, which was later re-published by him in 1989 with renewed content in the second edition^{5, 9}. In 1985 he wrote also a textbook-research, again dedicated for students of pharmacy, "Medicines, needs, medicines supply"^{5, 8}. Prof. Angel Kirkov’s research, related to interaction and unity of the medicines-supply process, as national system were extremely beneficial for the needs of the healthcare system and healthcare legislation in Bulgaria^{1, 5}.

Contribution to the drug provision system

The economic approach and the accompanying methods, created by Associate Professor Angel Kirkov, were well implemented in the Bulgarian healthcare and drug provision systems. They, at that time, contributed to ‘’the more correct planning and management of the overall activity’’ of the healthcare system in Bulgaria¹⁶.

Remarkable & memorable teacher

With extensive knowledge and rich practical Bulgarian and international business experience, Prof. Angel Kirkov was also remarkable lecturer in the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Medical University in Sofia^{1, 5}. And to this day, many of his students, remember how with his lectures he regularly filled lecture halls of the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Medical Academy⁷. His lectures provided, not only knowledge, but also were rich with interesting practical examples for students, related to his remarkable experience in the Bulgarian and global pharmaceutical industry⁷. For his students it was profound advantage to have a lecturer and teacher with vast practical and international experience, who knew in depth development and subtleties of native and world pharmaceutical industry⁷.

During his teaching there he was, as usual, highly-esteemed and very much liked by students, as well as by his colleagues, the other lecturers⁷. At that time, lecturer with so rich international experience in front of students was unique event for the Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry and academicity⁷.

Close

Importing into INBIOTECH his personal & professional qualities

Success and achievements of the company were and still are inextricably linked with activities, management and the name of Prof. Angel Kirkov, D.M.Sc., who left with years of practical experience and remarkable scientific experience durable trace in the development of the modern pharmaceutical industry in Bulgaria^{5, 7}. Today, some of the business leaders in the pharmaceutical industry in Bulgaria were his students^{5, 7}. As one of the most remarkable, up until today, of the founders of the modern Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry, as long-time General Director of State Business Association (SBA) ‘’Pharmachem’’, and as Professor in the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Medical Academy, Sofia, Prof. Angel Kirkov brought again in INBIOTECH his experience, knowledge, resourcefulness, industriousness and ambition for the successful development of the company^{5, 7}. These are factors, which contributed to the stable presence of the company in the Bulgarian pharmaceutical market and to INBIOTECH’s successes in markets outside Bulgaria^{5, 7}.

Expansion & modernization of the product portfolio

During management of INBIOTECH by Prof. Angel Kirkov, the product portfolio of the company consisted of 7 medicianl products and 10 food supplements, which covered socially-significant diseases in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrynology, rheumatology, pain, and others⁷. During his management INBIOTECH is in the process of introduction in the market of Bulgaria of new medicinal products, which were highly needed by patients in the country during the 1990s^{5, 7}.

Leading principles

One of the leading principles of Prof. Angel Kirkov was innovation in the choice of therapy⁷. In some of the therapeutic areas, where INBIOTECH was active in this period, the team of the company strives to provide to medical doctors, pharmacists and patients, aside to traditional, also the most modern generic medicinal products in the world, which are available for sales after expiration of the respective patent⁷. Such are the successful first generics of the company in the period 1993 – 2000⁷.

Quality of the chosen therapy is also leading principle, which he followed⁷. Another principle followed by him is the therapeutic, social and economic effectiveness of the medicinal product^{1, 7}. Developed and manufactured by INBIOTECH at that time medicinal products and food supplements are with proven therapeutic effect, high quality and affordable for the patient price⁷.

Clinical trials

For some of the generic medicinal products of INBIOTECH, Prof. Angel Kirkov initiated conducting of clinical trials with the aim to prove bioequivalency, effectiveness and safety in leading hospitals in Sofia and the country⁷. Also today, the team of INBIOTECH continues to abide by these principles and to follow them in our activities⁷.

Multitude of Bulgarian & international partners

Many of the Bulgarian and international partners who collaborated with Prof. Angel Kirkov in INBIOTECH, continue today their successful collaboration with the company⁷.

First generic medicinal products in Bulgaria

The rich manufacturing and scientific experience of Prof. Angel Kirkov and of the working in the company distinguished professionals contributed to development and implementation in the Bulgarian market of several first generic medicinal products in Bulgaria, with which the company is known to this day⁷. These first generic medicinal products are ENPRIL^®(first generic of Enalapril maleate), BIOPRAZOL^®(first generic of Omeprazole), BIOLIN^®(first generic of Nimesulide) and Cinnarizine INBIOTECH (first generic of Cinnarizine)⁷.

Leading private pharmaceutical company in Bulgaria in the 1990s

In the then ‘’sad period of economic collapse of native’’ pharmaceutical ‘’manufacturing’’¹³ these four first generics please, both the pharmaceutical and the medical societies in Bulgaria¹³. These first generics bring in significant economic success in sales for few years⁷. For the first time in the new industrial history of Bulgaria, private pharmaceutical company, INBIOTECH, implements in the market first generics of the most modern at that time medicinal products in the therapeutic areas of cardiology, gastroenterology, pain-relief and neurology⁷. For a period of few years, INBIOTECH is one of the leading private pharmaceutical companies in Bulgaria⁵.

The initial success of INBIOTECH also due to high-quality active pharmaceutical ingedients (APIs), which the company insourced from leading European manufacturers⁷.

With the contribution of Prof. Angel Kirkov, with his everyday activities and vision for future development of the company, INBIOTECH is active now more than 30 years in the Bulgarian market and in some international markets⁷.

Close

Inventions

The Institute for Inventions and Rationalizations awarded Author’s certificate on 26th May, 1981, to Eng. Angel Kirkov (with collective) award for the invention ‘’Method for preparation of N-diano-N’-methyl-N’’-(2-(((5-methyl-1H-imidazole-4-il)methyl)thio)ethyl)guanidine’’^{5, 10}.

In 1982 Assoc. Prof. Angel Kirkov (with collective) receved award for the invention ‘’Method for preparation of N-cyano-N’-methyl-N’’[2-(5-methyl-imidazole-4-il methylthio)ethyl]guanidine-biomet’’^{5, 11}. This invention was presented at exhibition ‘’Invented in Sofia’’^{5, 11}. The realized economic effect in terms of profit value from the preparation amounted in 1981-1982 to 1.5 billion Bulgarian Levs⁵.

Order "Old Mountain"

For his paramount contribution for the development of the modern Bulgarian pharmaceutical industry, Prof. Angel Kirkov had been rewarded with multitude of orders and high state awards. He was awarded with Order ‘’Stara planina’’ (i.e. ‘’Old Mountain’’), the highest state award⁵.

Industrial & scientific awards

Recognition of contribution of INBIOTECH during management of the company by Prof. Angel Kirkov for the development of the pharmaceutical business in Bulgaria, as well as for the development of regulation for medicinal products, were many prestigious awards for successful manufacturing activity and high socio-economic effectiveness^{5, 7}. The company, headed by Prof. Angel Kirkov, repeatedly was awarded by The Bulgarian Branch Chamber and The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, as well as by Bulgarian scientific, medicinal and pharmaceutical organizations^{5, 7}.

In 2002 Prof. Angel Kirkov personally, as well as on behalf of the team of INBIOTECH, received first award in the respective category, the award ‘’Hermes’’, for the successful economic activity of the company⁷. INBIOTECH, managed by him, was awarded for Company of the Year in the annual contest of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Industry and was awarded with the honour statuete ‘’Hermes’’ by the President of Republic of Bulgaria, who attended the event⁷.

Prof. Angel Kirkov received also recognition from lecturing professors in the Pharmaceutical Faculty of the Medical Academy in Sofia for remarkable contributions to the Pharmaceutical Faculty, the students of Pharmacy and to the modern pharmaceutical industry in Bulgaria⁷.

Paramount satisfaction for humane human

For Prof. Angel Kirkov, as well as for the team of INBIOTECH, the paramaount satisfaction was and still is the recognition of thousands of millions during the years patients, thousands of medical doctors (multitude of key opinion leaders in medicine in Bulgaria, Professors and Associate Professors), pharmacists, utilizing the medicinal products and food supplements of INBIOTECH in Bulgaria⁷.

Close

Hard work

No less important is his hard work⁵. In every job he worked on, he devoted himself as much as possible, without reserves⁵. After he learned the job in details, he bravely directed its development and improvement⁵. He always had been highly evaluated in the working collectives and especially by particular specialists and workers^{5, 7}. He realized clearly that leading by personal example is of particular significance in management of people specialists^{5, 7}.

Responsibility

Angel Kirkov applied his sense of responsibility in each of his activities, initiatives, and ventures⁵. Always, he deeply analyzed and discussed the long-term consequencies, which will occur after taking a particular decision^{5, 7}. Because of this, he also was famous for his fast and correct short-term and long-term decision-making^{5, 7}. He was not bothered to discuss a specific problem with employees and specialists, as well as to search for their views and suggestions, with which frequently he motivated his decisions^{5, 7}. He always learned from the best workers in manufacturing facilities, from the best scientific workers in the Scientific Research Chemical-Pharmaceutical Institute (SRCPI) and other scientific institutions, as well as from the commercial team, with whom he worked for the Bulgarian market, the European market, the Russian and South-East Asian market⁵.

Humility

In his work as manager at that time he exerted humility^{5, 7}. He was brought up on deep humility and early on learned to understand not only his peers, but also older people around him⁵. This humility of Angel Kirkov he applied in his relations with other people⁵. He was even interested in why a particular worker or other employee left his job by own will⁵. He asked the questions ‘’What you do not like about your job? From what are you dissatisfied?’’⁵. In his work as a manager he always strived to know well the work atmosphere and to contribute constantly to improvement of team activity and effectiveness⁵. As an organizer and manager, Eng. Angel Kirkov’s contributions were recognized and respected by the teams of the manufacturing facilities and of the enterprizes he worked for¹⁹.

Close