Alcon reports 14.3% increase in first quarter sales

HUNENBERG, Switzerland — Global product sales for Alcon totaled more than $1.3 billion for the first quarter, representing a 14.3% increase over sales for the first quarter of 2006, the company announced in a press release.

Net earnings for the first quarter also increased 17.1% to total $346.2 million, or $1.14 per diluted share.

Compared with the first quarter of 2006, pharmaceutical sales increased 16.7% to total $554.5 million and represented 41.9% of Alcon's total sales. Glaucoma product sales increased 16.9%, infection/inflammation product sales increased 15.5% and allergy product sales increased 5.2%, according to the release.

Surgical product sales increased 10.6% over the first quarter of 2006 and totaled $580.7 million, accounting for 43.9% of total sales. IOL sales increased 11.9% to total $211 million, primarily driven by increased global sales of the AcrySof IQ and a 19.1% increase in sales of the AcrySof ReSTOR and AcrySof Toric IOLs.

Sales of cataract and vitrectomy products increased 10.8%, and sales of Infiniti vision system units increased 45%. However, refractive revenue declined 13% for the quarter, which the company attributed to decreased procedure fees in the United States.

Consumer eye care sales increased 19.6% to total $187.5 million, accounting for 14.2% of total sales.