Early Life
Moshe "Mori" Arkin was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, in 1952. His parents were Russian immigrants who owned a pharmacy, which provided a modest entrepreneurial foundation. Arkin's father, Ziama Arkin, founded Agis Commercial Agencies in 1961, a pharmaceutical importer.
Rise to Success
Arkin began his career in 1972, assisting his father in their pharmaceutical distribution business. In 1983, he transformed it into Agis Industries, which became a leading generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, particularly in topical dermatological products. Arkin's strategic acumen led to the 2005 sale of Agis to Perrigo for $390 million. Following this, he established Arkin Capital in 2009, an investment platform for life sciences ventures.
Key Business Strategies
Arkin's business strategy is characterized by industry specialization, strategic exits, and reinvestment in high-growth niches. A significant move was the 2004 sale of Agis Industries, which provided capital for subsequent ventures. He retained majority ownership of Sol-Gel Technologies, a dermatology-focused firm, after its 2018 IPO, underscoring his focus on long-term value creation.
Philanthropy
Arkin, along with his wife Doris, established the Arkin Family Foundation in 2011. The foundation supports initiatives in education, arts and culture, welfare, healthcare, civil rights, and Jewish-Arab coexistence.