Alcon reports more than $1 billion in sales during second quarter

HUNENBERG, Switzerland — Alcon had global sales of $1.04 billion during the second quarter of 2004, the first time the company has topped $1 billion in sales during any single quarter, the company reported in a financial earnings release. This represented a sales increase of 12.3% from the same period 1 year ago, according to the press release.

Net earnings for the quarter increased 67.9%, from $178.2 million in the second quarter of 2003 to $299.2 million this year, the company said.

The earnings release noted highlights for the quarter including a 7.6% increase in U.S. sales to $549.9 million and an 18.1% increase in international sales to $489.3 million. Pharmaceutical sales accounted for 42.4% of the company’s total revenue, with glaucoma products increasing 24.1% during the quarter from the year-ago period. Sales of Travatan (travoprost) increased 57.1% worldwide, the release said.

Allergy products increased sales only 0.3% because of a less severe allergy season this year, the release said. Sales of infection and inflammation products rose 8.9% overall, with the 8.9% increase in sales for Vigamox (moxifloxacin) more than offsetting declining sales of Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin), according to the company. The older fluoroquinolone lost patent protection during the quarter, the release noted.

Surgical sales increased 14.2% from the year-ago period to $459.1 million, which the company attributed in part to the AcrySof Natural IOL. Overall sales of the company’s IOLs increased 17.1% to $148.1 million. According to Alcon, the AcrySof Natural held a 33% share of the U.S. market in June 2004.

Sales of cataract and vitrectomy products rose 15.1% from the previous year, while refractive revenue declined 16.8%, the release said. Alcon attributed the refractive surgery decline to a weakened global demand for equipment. U.S. technology fees rose with increased demand for LASIK procedures and a “significant shift toward higher-priced custom procedures,” the company said in the release.

Consumer eye care sales increased 6.3%, the release said. Dry eye treatment Systane Lubricant Eye Drops increased sales by 13.8% over the previous year’s second quarter.

During the quarter, the company filed a premarketing approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for the AcrySof ReStor multifocal IOL and for the viscoelastic solution Discovisc.

Alcon received an approvable letter during the quarter for the once-daily version of its allergy drug Patanol (olopatadine).

The company said it has enrolled 450 patients in two risk-reduction clinical trials for Retaane (anecortave acetate), a therapy for choroidal neovascularization that has received “fast track” designation from the FDA. Alcon said it expects to enroll up to 2,500 patients in these trials over the next 12 to 15 months.