Alcon sales, earnings jump in second quarter

HUNENBERG, Switzerland — Alcon increased its overall sales 8.5% in the second quarter of 2002 compared with the same period of 2001, led by double-digit growth in pharmaceuticals.

The company’s glaucoma product sales rose 33.3% in the second quarter, as compared to the second quarter of 2001, with Travatan (travoprost) reaching $19.1 million. Alcon has launched the drug in 47 countries and has approval for marketing in 56.

A 13.2% sales increase for the ocular anti-infective Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin HCl) and an 11% increase in sales for the anti-inflammatory TobraDex (tobramycin and dexamethasone ophthalmic suspension) helped improve sales in the overall category by 9.2% in the second quarter over the same quarter in 2001.

IOL sales increased 9.1% to $113.5 million, and cataract and vitrectomy equipment and related disposable products sales increased 7.7% to $85.5 million. Sales of the company’s viscoelastics also posted double-digit sales growth compared with sales in the comparable 2001 period, to $45.4 million, a 12.1% increase.

Refractive revenues decreased by 33.2%, to $16.1 million. Chief executive officer Tim Sear noted that refractive sales make up only 3% of the company’s overall revenue. He attributed the decline to global economic conditions and weak consumer confidence.

Alcon’s consumer eye care sales increased 6.2% during the quarter.