Alcon At-a-Glance
Company Profile
- World’s largest eye care company
- Broadest portfolio of eye care products in three key ophthalmic categories: surgical, pharmaceutical and consumer eye care products
- Conducts business globally in more than 180 countries through offices in more than 75 countries
- 2007 sales of US$5.6 billion and net earnings of US$1.6 billion
- Nearly 15,000 employees worldwide
- Founded in 1945 in Fort Worth, Texas, by pharmacists Robert Alexander and William Conner
- Acquired by Nestlé S.A. in 1978 and incorporated in Hunenberg, Switzerland, with U.S. operations based in Fort Worth, Texas
- Became a publicly traded company in 2002 when Nestlé sold 25% of its shares on the NYSE
- Currently majority owned by Nestlé S.A. (77%) with the remaining shares trading on the NYSE under the symbol ACL
Our Vision
To be the first choice for eye care products and the most trusted eye care company in the world.
Our People
The level of passion, commitment and dedication of Alcon employees is unmatched in the industry. The reason is that we all believe in what we're doing as a company, that we're making a difference in the world, and that we're doing it together united by a shared goal of enhancing, preserving and restoring vision worldwide. In fact, Fortune magazine has consistently named us as one of the Top 100 Companies to Work For.
Conditions, Products and Brands
Our product lines are organized into three groups. Our surgical products, which represents 44.6 percent of our total sales, grew 13.4 percent to US$2.5 billion. Global sales of our pharmaceutical products, representing 41.3 percent of our total sales, grew 15.3 percent to US$2.31 billion. In addition, the global sale of our consumer vision care product lines, which represents 14.1 percent of our total sales, increased 14.6 percent to US$.079 billion.
Cataracts
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world today, with more than 25 million people affected each year. Through today's cataract surgery, the world's most successful surgery, blindness can be prevented or restored.
Our Flagship Products
AcrySof® ReSTOR® IOL
AcrySof® IQ IOL
AcrySof® Toric IOL
INFINITI® Vision System
DisCoVisc® Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device (OVD)
DuoVisc® Viscosurgical System
ProVisc® Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Device
BSS PLUS® Surgical Solution
Custom-Pak® Surgical Packs
Contact Lens Care
As many as 100 million individuals around the globe wear contact lenses, and cleaning and disinfecting is just part of the daily routine.
Our Flagship Products
OPTI-FREE® RepleniSH® Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution (MPDS)
OPTI-FREE® Express® Lasting Comfort No Rub™ (MPDS)
Detached Retina
Retinal detachment is a condition that often requires vitreoretinal surgery – a procedure that can also treat other conditions of the retina such as intraocular tumors, severe eye trauma, and ocular complications of diabetes or sickle cell disease.
Our Flagship Product
Dry Eye
For the millions of people around the globe who experience dry eye – especially those who live in hot, dry and dusty conditions – relief is available.
Our Flagship Product
Ear Infection
Over 90% of children will develop an ear infection before age 7, and more than one third will have at least 3 infections.
Our Flagship Product
Eye Allergy
Affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide, the number of allergy suffers is growing, with possible causes sited as everything from reduced air quality to poor diet.
Our Flagship Products
Patanol® Ophthalmic Solution / Opatanol® Ophthalmic Solution
Eye Infection
Infections affect many people at one time or another and it's most important that these are resolved with a visit to an eye care professional who can prescribe medication.
Our Flagship Products
TobraDex® Ophthalmic Suspension
Vigamox®* Ophthalmic Solution
Eye Inflammation
Often painful and potentially requiring medication, eye inflammation is best treated by an eye care specialist.
Our Flagship Products
Nevanac® Ophthalmic Suspension
TobraDex® Ophthalmic Suspension
Eye Vitamins
Many nutrients are necessary for proper eye health, and routinely taking vitamins that benefit the eye can help reduce one's susceptibility to disease and infection.
Our Flagship Product
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world today, affecting more than 65 million people globally.
Our Flagship Products
TRAVATAN Z® Solution
TRAVATAN® Solution
DuoTrav® Solution
Azopt® Ophthalmic Suspension
Global Operations & World Markets
Sixty years ago, Alcon was a small pharmacy in Fort Worth, Texas – today we're a US$5.6 billion corporation with operations in more than 75 countries worldwide. Our offices not only serve the regions in which they are located, but many play important and specific roles within our global operations such as research & development, manufacturing and quality assurance.
To learn more about the markets in which Alcon operates, visit Locations.
Commitment to Quality
Alcon adheres to a high standard of quality in all aspects of our operations. We seek to continually improve our business processes and quality management systems. In addition, we comply with the highest level of regulatory and statutory requirements that govern our business in the markets in which we operate while consistently exceeding these standards.
Commitment to Research
In 2007, we invested US$564 million in the pursuit of new products. Over the next five years, we will invest another
US$4 billion – representing the largest corporate research investment to advancing eye care in the world.
Corporate Governance
Alcon is committed to operating with integrity and to complying with all applicable laws and regulations governing its conduct. To accomplish this, Alcon utilizes a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics to provide a framework for corporate governance and maintains three standing committees within the Board of Directors whose responsibilities include corporate governance.
Learn more about our corporate governance guidelines.
Corporate Responsibility
Alcon is committed to providing treatments for the millions worldwide who suffer from preventable diseases and conditions of the eye, requiring a high level of dedication, commitment and responsibility to patients, physicians, our employees and the global community. We address these many concerns through continuing education, humanitarian efforts, patient assistance, medical missions, disaster relief, environmental management, and continual improvement.
Through these and other programs, Alcon is working toward ensuring that people globally are able to enjoy the best quality of vision possible.
Investor Contact Information
Alcon Investor Relations Contact Information
Doug MacHatton
Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Corporate Communications
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Phone: 800-400-8599
John Selzer
Director, Investor Relations
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
Phone: 800-400-8599
Alcon Media/Press Relations Contact Information
External Communications
Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
6201 South Freeway
Fort Worth, Texas 76134
U.S.A.
Phone: 800-631-0962
* Licensed to Alcon, Inc. by Bayer HealthCare, AG; CIPRODEX is a registered trademark of Bayer AG.
