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Alcon posts strong gains for fiscal 2002

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HUNENBERG, Switzerland — Global sales for Alcon in 2002 reached $3.01 billion, a 9.5% increase in sales from the previous year. Overall sales in the company’s surgical line reached $1.44 billion, an increase of 6% from the previous year while full-year sales in Alcon’s pharmaceutical line reached $1.1 billion, a 17.4% increase from 2001. Sales in the company’s consumer eye care line grew to $481.1 million, a 4.1% increase from the previous year.

Total sales of Alcon’s glaucoma products for 2002 reached $278.7 million, led by Travatan (travaprost) with 2002 sales of $70.9 million. Sales of anti-infective Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin) for the full year were $105.8 million and sales of TobraDex (tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) were $195.1 million for the year. Sales of Patanol (olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution) led the company’s allergy sector, reaching $198.3 million.

Surgical sales for the full year reached $1.44 billion, a 6% increase from the previous year. According to a news release, the SKBM microkeratome recall had an adverse impact on gross profit margin for the year, but only accounted for 10% of the company’s overall sales. Sales of cataract and vitrectomy equipment during 2002 were $341.5 million, a 9.2% increase from the previous year. Viscoelastic sales grew 6.9% to $169.9 million from the previous year’s sales.

Consumer eye care sales reached $481.1 million, a 4.1% increase from 2001.

The company’s pipeline “has never been richer,” said Tim Sear, president and chief executive officer. During the fourth quarter, Alcon increased its sales force to “support the continued growth of Travatan and in preparation for the launch of three new pharmaceutical products in 2003,” he added.

Alcon is seeking U.S. marketing approval for moxifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, and anecortave acetate for wet age-related macular degeneration. The company also plans to begin marketing Patanol as Opatanol in the European Union this spring. Opatanol gained EU marketing approval during the fourth quarter of 2002.